The US president was asked about the job - which will become free when Jens Stoltenberg stands down later this year - during a press conference with Rishi Sunak. UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has previously said 'it's a job I'd like'.
"They have a candidate who's a very qualified individual... we have a lot of discussion between us in NATO, to determine what the outcome of that will be."If Mr Wallace is successful, he would be the first British person to hold the post since Baron George Robertson vacated it in 2003.
This could be seen as a slight aimed at the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who is also said to be in the running for the top role within the alliance.Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerMs Frederiksen also visited the United States and Mr Biden earlier this week. Some within the alliance are pushing for a woman or someone from Eastern Europe to take over given the context of the war in Ukraine. Many of the alliance's previous leaders have been Northern European men.The selection of the new secretary general usually takes place behind the scenes.
Mr Sunak also made the case for Mr Wallace to take on the role while at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, last month.
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