OTTAWA—After 73 years, NATO is finally seeking a woman to lead the alliance. Rest assured, there is no shortage of talent across the 30-member bloc. Given the backlash from Brexit and the growing rift between Brussels and London, it seems unlikely that the allies will choose Theresa May. Despite her unapologetic denial, Angela Merkel’s legacy is tainted by her mishandling of Germany’s relationship with Russia. Although Sophie Wilmès and Federica Mogherini are both exceptional candidates, representatives from Belgium and Italy have previously held the secretary general position. Even if Dalia Grybauskaite, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and Kersti Kaljulaid pass all the tests with flying colours, Lithuania, Croatia, and Estonia are newer members of the alliance and may be viewed as too hawkish towards Russia by some of their western European counterparts. While Washington and Brussels debate choosing between a representative from western or eastern Europe, Canada’s Chrystia Freeland strikes a balance between the two.