Why was the deputy director of NATO always Italian from 1971-2012?

by nerbovig
Searocksandtrees

Hi, I've approved the post, but just a note to you and potential respondents: this subreddit has a 20-year rule against discussing current events, so any answers will have to cut off at 1997.

If you're looking for answers that can include 1998-2012, do consider x-posting elsewhere, eg. a foreign affairs sub like /r/geopolitics