European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on Tuesday she wasn't interested in succeeding NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after his extended term expires next month.
"I am most certainly not available for that. I think NATO is great, and if it didn't exist, it would have to be created. I very, very much enjoyed working in NATO as a defense minister, but I'm most certainly not available for that job. My place is in Europe," Von der Leyen told the German broadcaster WDR.
Stoltenberg has been leading the Western military alliance since 2014, and his term was due to expire in 2022. However, it was extended following Russia's invasion of Ukraine to ensure stability during the crisis. NATO member states are scheduled to meet in Lithuania on July 11-12 to pick the bloc's new leader, as Stoltenberg appears unlikely to again prolong his mandate.
