French President Macron opposes Ben Wallace as potential NATO chief, claims British daily

French officials communicate to their NATO counterparts that they prefer representative from the EU to assume role, reports Telegraph

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron has allegedly been trying to prevent UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace from becoming the next NATO chief, according to the Telegraph on Sunday.

Macron has shown his reservations based on Brexit, UK's exit from the EU.

Wallace is being considered as a potential successor to Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg when his term ends later this year.

Citing sources familiar with the subject, the British daily reported that French officials have communicated to their NATO counterparts that they prefer a representative from the European Union to assume the role.

A source quoted by Telegraph said: "He is not from an EU member state. Many countries, mainly France, insist the next secretary-general must come from an EU country."

This move is seen as part of France's efforts to make the EU more militarily independent and less reliant on Washington for security matters.

Stoltenberg, who has held the position of NATO Secretary General since 2014, is expected to step down in September, but it has been claimed that US President Joe Biden has requested an extension of Stoltenberg's term.

UK Defense Secretary Wallace has been mentioned as one of the potential successors to Stoltenberg.

Wallace previously signaled that he is ready to assume the role, saying, "I’ve always said it would be a good job. That’s a job I’d like...But it’s not for me to decide. It’s for all the other allies."

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