Joe Biden pushing for Ursula von der Leyen to be next Nato boss after blocking Ben Wallace

Mrs von der Leyen is predicted to be a front-runner for EU leaders to retain her function because the bloc’s most senior official answerable for the Commission.

However, there are doubts over whether or not she would additionally be ready to command assist from the European Parliament, with Right-wing MEPs, who oppose her inexperienced insurance policies, set to kind an alliance.

“It brings the Nato job into the discussions over Europe’s other top jobs,” a supply mentioned.

Last week, Mr Stoltenberg, mentioned he was “not seeking an extension” having already delayed his departure to present stability for the alliance amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He will stay in publish till October 2024, that means he may have served as Nato’s secretary basic for a decade by the point he’s due to stand down.

There isn’t any official process for appointing the army alliance’s prime official. Its 31 member states should maintain discussions over potential candidates till a consensus is reached.

Mr Wallace dropped out of the race to change Mr Stoltenberg final month after his candidacy was opposed by the White House and France, which needs a pacesetter from the European Union to fill the function.

Wallace assist for Ukraine a difficulty

The Defence Secretary was mentioned to have been a favorite with a lot of Nato member states, however there have been vital tensions with Washington, the alliance’s de facto chief, over his unprecedented assist for Ukraine.

He has usually gone additional in his army backing for Kyiv, together with on tanks and long-range cruise missiles, than the US.

Other Nato allies favoured a first-rate minister or head of state to change Mr Stoltenberg, whereas others nonetheless had pushed for a feminine candidate.

Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, emerged because the potential front-runner to take up the function after a latest assembly with Mr Biden on the White House.

However, she dominated herself out of competition when member states raised considerations over the opportunity of having a 3rd consecutive Scandinavian chief of Nato.

Turkey was additionally anticipated to oppose the Danish prime minister after copies of the Koran and Turkish flags had been set alight in Copenhagen final week.