Maxim Minaev - about the post of NATO Secretary General

Candidate of Political Sciences, senior researcher at the Institute of the USA and Canada of the Russian Academy of Sciences Maxim Minaev writes in the publication “Current Comments” :

“Formally, the position of the secretary general of the alliance does not seem so significant. NATO is first and foremost a military alliance. And the main role in it is played by persons occupying positions in the military hierarchy. <…>.

At the same time, the position of the Secretary General has its own weight and significance. Firstly, this is the head of NATO’s political division, that administrative unit that is responsible for the political support of the military course. Secondly, the Secretary General is the main frontman of the alliance. It is he who voices all the key decisions made by both his military and civilian sectors. Third, this is why the Secretary General represents NATO leadership as such. Finally, he is the head of the union’s so-called “diplomatic office.” The Secretary General is entrusted with all the main responsibilities for maintaining dialogue with both members of the alliance and external players - friends and enemies.

In modern realities, the importance of the figure of the NATO Secretary General has especially increased. Against the backdrop of <...> the conflict in Ukraine, unity and discipline in the ranks of the bloc largely depend on it. He is the moderator of all its internal processes, which require the active participation of politicians and leaders of the alliance member states. The Secretary General projects NATO’s military-political line on the world stage. <…>

For Russia, the new NATO Secretary General will, first of all, be associated with maintaining the bloc’s offensive policy on the eastern borders and active military-technical support for Ukraine. J. Stoltenberg's replacement must complete the process of Sweden joining the alliance. Under him, a decision will be made to launch the procedure for new applicants to join the bloc - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine and Georgia. NATO will continue to build up its military presence in the immediate vicinity of the Russian Federation - in the Baltic countries, Romania and Poland.”