NATO's future leadership: Kaja Kallas signals readiness for chief position
As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg nears the end of his term, a fresh candidate has come forward for the esteemed position
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is reportedly considering the role of NATO Secretary-General once Jens Stoltenberg's term concludes next year, as revealed by Estonian Public Broadcasting ERR.
During her participation in the POLITICO Defence Summit in the United States, Kallas confirmed her interest in the position with an affirmative "yes," earning applause.
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg has been NATO Secretary-General since 2014 and his mandate has been extended four times.
Kallas, a 46-year-old lawyer, is known for being a staunch supporter of Ukraine in Europe and a vocal critic of Russia within the European Union and NATO. Notably, she has advocated for NATO to formulate a more comprehensive defense plan for the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—bordering Russia.
Among other things, Kallas pressed NATO to present a more comprehensive defense plan for the three Baltic states bordering Russia - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
While Kallas' Reform Party secured a significant victory in the Estonian elections in March, her popularity waned in August following media reports that revealed her husband's continued major shareholding in a transport company operating in Moscow after Russia's conflict with Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite earlier urging Estonian companies to cease activities in Russia, Kallas, who claimed ignorance about her husband's business details, faced calls for resignation from President Alar Karis and the public but chose not to resign.
Source: ERR
