NATO’s Norwegian Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announces that he will leave his post this autumn.
But the pressure is mounting to make him stay a while longer.
On September 30, the 64-year-old’s latest extension expires. And according to Stoltenberg himself, he has no intention of continuing.
– I say exactly the same thing as I have said all along: I have no other plans and no intention of seeking an extension, says the Secretary General on his way to Thursday’s NATO meetings in Brussels.
Stoltenberg took office in 2014 and has frequently received praise from both presidents and ministers during his years in NATO. His mandate has already been extended several times. Most recently last year when he had already agreed to become Norwegian Riksbank governor, but still chose to stay in Brussels to avoid NATO being drawn into an infected leadership battle, in the middle of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Support from Germany
Although that risk now still remains, as no given replacement has yet emerged.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius openly supports a continuation.
– NATO cannot continue without a Secretary General if we cannot agree on a candidate as a replacement. So of course I’m in favor of an extension, especially because I appreciate our cooperation, says Pistorius on his way into the meeting.
Mette’s favorite?
If Stoltenberg does end after all, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been mentioned as one of the favorites to succeed him – even though in that case it would mean a third Scandinavian in a row in the post.
Sweden’s Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) is in any case low in the discussion. Because Sweden is not yet a full member.
– I can only say that we have appreciated Stoltenberg’s deep commitment to both the Finnish and the Swedish NATO application, says Jonson in Brussels.