Greek Prime Minister may become next NATO Secretary General

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis may become the new secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as his candidacy has already been backed by the United States due to Athens shifting its once-friendly attitude toward Moscow, Sputnik learned from a source in Mitsotakis’ circle.

Shortly after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, Mitsotakis followed the US and the West's path by taking an anti-Russia stance, in spite of Greece's close historical and cultural ties with Russia.

The source added that Mitsotakis wanted to prove to the US his loyalty to NATO's agenda so he got involved in decisions regarding sending weapons to Ukraine and expelling 12 Russian diplomats, severely deteriorating the relations between Russia and Greece.

Read more: Greek police disperse anti-NATO rally in Thessaloniki with tear gas

 

Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg took the office of the NATO secretary-general in October 2014, and his term was supposed to expire in fall 2022. However, his tenure was extended, due to the Ukrainian crisis, until September 30, 2023. Mitsotakis' first four-year prime minister mandate will also expire near the same time, in October 2023.

There is no formal procedure for selecting a NATO secretary-general. The 30 members usually decide on a new member by consensus and the consultation normally takes place through informal diplomatic channels.