NATO Chief Stoltenberg does not seek another extension and set to leave office

Europe, News February 14, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The NATO Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is set to leave office by this year. A NATO official has confirmed that Stoltenberg does not seek to extend his tenure for the fourth time.

According to the NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu, “The Secretary General’s term comes to an end in October of this year, and he has no intention to seek another extension of his mandate.” Stoltenberg has been serving as NATO chief for the last nine years as he received three extensions in his mandate. The latest extension in his term as the NATO chief came in September 2022.

Despite repeatedly stating that the NATO alliance is not a direct party involved in the Russia-Ukraine war, he has been particularly active and vocal during the Russian invasion of Ukraine rallying the alliance to gather weapons and support for Ukraine.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg took the office as NATO chief in October 2014. Stoltenberg’s strategies have always been focused to counter Russian expansion toward the west. Back in 2014 as his appointment took place in Brussels, Russia had recently captured Crimea from Ukraine.

Stoltenberg is currently NATO’s second-longest serving Secretary General. Joseph Luns of the Netherlands held the post from 1971 to 1984, making him the longest-serving NATO chief. However, Stoltenberg’s tenure as the NATO chief is the most significant one as he has been dealing with several challenges including NATO and the U.S.’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the alliance’s expansion, and the increasing threat of a Russian invasion.

During his tenure as the NATO chief, the alliance also saw many low points. French President Emmanuel Macron called NATO a “Brain Dead” alliance due to its inactive stature that had persisted for a long time since 2014. Stoltenberg played a key role in mediating between the former U.S. president Donald Trump and the rest of the alliance members in order to keep the U.S. in the alliance after a dispute regarding NATO defense spending emerged in 2019.

*^{NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (R) welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden to the NATO Summit in Madrid on June 29, 2022. (Image Credit: NATO)}*

Due to his expertise relevant to the ongoing events involving Russia, several diplomats, and leaders of the NATO members have been expecting him to extend his role as the NATO chief until the alliance’s 75th-anniversary summit. However, Stoltenberg made a timely announcement regarding his retirement to make sure that the alliance has sufficient time to decide on the next NATO chief.

NATO leaders are expected to vote for a new secret general in the July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The NATO officials have not indicated who will take the office as the NATO chief in the coming days, however, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace are among the leading candidates for the post.