During a programmed visit to North America, the British prime minister plans to press the American president to back the candidacy of the British defense secretary for the role of NATO secretary general. This development has been reported by a leading British publication and is being closely watched by observers in Washington and Brussels.
The trip to the United States is being framed as a chance to emphasize shared security priorities and reinforce the transatlantic partnership. Officials familiar with the discussions say the prime minister intends to urge U.S. support for a senior leadership position within NATO that would be held by Britain’s defense chief, signaling London’s desire to shape the alliance’s next phase of leadership.
Sources say the topic was first floated during the sidelines of the recent G7 gathering in Hiroshima, where heads of state and government discussed how to coordinate responses to evolving security challenges and sustain close cooperation across the Atlantic. The same reporting highlights the complex diplomacy around a NATO selection that often reflects both consensus-building and national interest among alliance members.
Observers note that the defense secretary enjoys considerable support in Washington because of his role in rallying international backing for Ukraine and his influence over Britain’s defense spending, which stands near 2.25 percent of GDP. The coverage also points to potential friction within the alliance, mentioning that France and Germany might withhold their backing, while several member states weigh the merits of a candidate from the Nordic region for a future leadership post. There is also speculation that the next secretary general could be the first woman to hold the office, with some analysts pointing to a Nordic politician as a likely figure in that scenario.
As anticipated, the timing of an official announcement regarding NATO’s next secretary general could come in July, according to the reporting. The defense secretary has previously indicated that he would be honored to assume the role if offered, a statement that has been cited by commentators as a sign of his readiness for the job and his comfort with high-stakes diplomatic responsibilities. [Source attribution: British publication]