Jens Stoltenberg will stay on as NATO Secretary General for another year, the US media reported, quoting his own sources in political circles. The decision came after high-profile political events and on the eve of one of the most important meetings of the member states of the alliance. Despite the presence of worthy candidates on the list of contenders for the NATO chairmanship, none of them was able to win the necessary majority. For his part, Stoltenberg has repeatedly stressed, that he is not fighting for an extension of his term and will return to his native Norway at the end of his term.
Although there has not yet been an official announcement on Jens Stoltenberg’s extension, several high-ranking officials told Western journalists, that it is a done deal. A U.S. diplomat in Western Europe, for example, said on condition of anonymity, that it “will be formalised next week”. And another Eastern European diplomat and a NATO spokesman also confirmed, that there is consensus within the alliance on the issue. Media representatives explain, that the officials have been granted anonymity, because they are not authorised to comment before the official announcement.
The decision to keep Stoltenberg is prompted by the anticipation of a major NATO summit in Vilnius on 11-12 July. Much is expected of the meeting and it is already being called one of the most important for the Alliance in recent years, especially against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Furthermore, discussions about a new NATO leader were on the agenda right up until the Ukrainian counter-offensive stalled. The choice of a secretary general came to a complete standstill after the revolt of the Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group. It was last weekend that, according to the West, appeared to be the biggest crack in the Russian world and the regime of President Vladimir Putin in two decades.
The bloc’s allies spent months pondering Stoltenberg’s successor before deciding to stick with the current secretary-general. Many political leaders chose to support an experienced politician known for his cautious rhetoric at a politically difficult time for the Alliance and the world.
Asked about extending Stoltenberg’s tenure, a senior Nordic diplomat said: “He is best suited to the role of secretary general, not least given the difficult security environment we find ourselves in. I hope we will have good news next week,” he said.
According to sources, most NATO leaders agree with US President Joe Biden’s view that Stoltenberg should remain the alliance’s secretary general in the current circumstances.
Jens Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been head of NATO since 2014 and his mandate has been renewed several times. It expired in 2022, but was extended until the end of September 2023 due to the war in Ukraine. He himself has long maintained, that he has not lobbied for his candidacy. When asked about his plans at a press conference on Tuesday, he said his views had not changed.
“As for myself, I have made my position clear many, many times,” he said. “I am not looking for an extension, and I have stated that many times,” he added.
Earlier this week it emerged, that none of Stoltenberg’s possible successors as head of the alliance, such as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, British Defence Chief Ben Wallace and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, could win overwhelming support among the North Atlantic Alliance’s 31 member states. As a reminder, there is no formal election for the NATO chief, who is appointed by consensus of the Alliance’s member states.
Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly stressed, that Ukraine has a place in NATO, but there are no projected timelines or details of this as of today. The latest statement by the Alliance general is based on the assumption, that discussion of Ukraine’s membership in NATO is possible only after the July summit in Vilnius. “After the NATO summit we will consider Ukraine’s aspirations for membership in the alliance,” Stoltenberg told the EU summit. He clarified, that NATO’s priority at the moment is to support Kiev.
