Canada’s top soldier in running for highest NATO job: source
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John Ivison Jun 20, 2011
OTTAWA — Canada’s top soldier is in the running to become NATO’s most senior military officer, according to sources within the alliance.
Walter Natynczyk, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, is said to be keen to become the alliance’s Chairman of the Military Committee, when the post becomes vacant this September.
General Natynczyk would need the Prime Minister’s blessing to run for the job of becoming principal military adviser to NATO’s Secretary General, since Canada has to pick up the multi-million-dollar tab to pay his salary, staff and security.
A government spokesman said it is “premature” to comment on the General’s prospective candidacy.
It is understood the Conservative government is concerned about another high profile loss of face, if the General’s candidacy becomes official and he loses. Canada lost its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, while Defence Minister Peter MacKay was beaten to the job of NATO Secretary General by Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
If he does make a run for the job, General Natynczyk will face competition from Denmark’s chief of defence, Knud Bartels, in the secret vote by the top soldiers from NATO’s 28 members on Sept. 17. General Bartels has already been endorsed by his own government, but some NATO members have expressed their unease at both the Secretary General and Chair of the Military Committee coming from the same country.
There may be other entrants, but the Chairman has only ever come from 13 nations. The three-year position is currently held by an Italian admiral, Giampaolo Di Paola. A U.S. general traditionally holds the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who heads military operations, but an American has never been Secretary General and only on two occasions has the Chairman of the Military Committee come from the U.S.
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Article Link
John Ivison Jun 20, 2011
OTTAWA — Canada’s top soldier is in the running to become NATO’s most senior military officer, according to sources within the alliance.
Walter Natynczyk, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, is said to be keen to become the alliance’s Chairman of the Military Committee, when the post becomes vacant this September.
General Natynczyk would need the Prime Minister’s blessing to run for the job of becoming principal military adviser to NATO’s Secretary General, since Canada has to pick up the multi-million-dollar tab to pay his salary, staff and security.
A government spokesman said it is “premature” to comment on the General’s prospective candidacy.
It is understood the Conservative government is concerned about another high profile loss of face, if the General’s candidacy becomes official and he loses. Canada lost its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, while Defence Minister Peter MacKay was beaten to the job of NATO Secretary General by Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
If he does make a run for the job, General Natynczyk will face competition from Denmark’s chief of defence, Knud Bartels, in the secret vote by the top soldiers from NATO’s 28 members on Sept. 17. General Bartels has already been endorsed by his own government, but some NATO members have expressed their unease at both the Secretary General and Chair of the Military Committee coming from the same country.
There may be other entrants, but the Chairman has only ever come from 13 nations. The three-year position is currently held by an Italian admiral, Giampaolo Di Paola. A U.S. general traditionally holds the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who heads military operations, but an American has never been Secretary General and only on two occasions has the Chairman of the Military Committee come from the U.S.
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