EURO boss Ursula von der Leyen is in the running to be the new head of Nato.
Her term as EU Commission president does not end until next year.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has thrown her hat in the ring to become next Nato chief
Yet a diplomatic source says a number of Nato member states have suggested she take over the alliance this October.
The former German Defence Minister will, however, face an uphill battle to win the opaque selection process — with the move likely to outrage Eurosceptics.
Current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is due to step down later this year after his term was extended due to the war in Ukraine.
There is no formal election, with the 30-strong Western alliance privately choosing a new leader by consensus.
The Americans do not usually put up a candidate as a US General traditionally serves as a Supreme Allied Commander of Europe.
But the White House has a big say in who gets the job.
UK sources have suggested Britain would likely veto Ms Von der Leyen — citing her poor track record in charge of Germany’s Armed Forces.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is in contention to be the first Nato Secretary General from Britain in 20 years.
It is understood that PM Rishi Sunak is formally backing his bid.
Estonia PM Kaja Kallas has also been tipped for the job — but is said to have ruled herself out as she stares down the threat of Russia on her own borders.
Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland — who is half Ukrainian — is also in the running.
But a Nato source suggested she was unlikely to get the job due to Canada’s failure to meet the alliance-wide target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence.
