Ric Grenell, former U.S. ambassador to Germany, has advocated for delaying the selection of the next secretary-general of NATO until after the U.S. presidential election. Speaking on “The Morgan Ortagus Show” on Sunday, Grenell highlighted the proximity of the upcoming EU elections and the American elections as reasons to postpone the decision-making process.
“With the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9 and the U.S. Election Day on November 5, it would be imprudent to rush the selection of NATO’s next secretary-general this summer,” Grenell remarked.
Grenell underscored the need for immediate changes within NATO if a new secretary-general were appointed for a prolonged period before the U.S. election. He noted that Jens Stoltenberg, the current NATO secretary-general, will not conclude his term until October, making it evident that discussions about his successor should be deferred.
“It’s crucial that we refrain from engaging in discussions about the next secretary-general until after the U.S. election. This would allow for a brief delay of around 30 to 60 days to assess the outcomes of the election,” Grenell emphasized.
