The member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) confirmed on July 4 that incumbent Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will stay in office for another year. The declaration came after the alliance was unable to agree on a candidate for the job of leader.
“Honoured by #NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024,” Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.
“The transatlantic bond between Europe & North America has ensured our freedom & security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever.”
Britain's Defense Minister Ben Wallace, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among the frontrunners for the position of Secretary General.
Because the United States is the alliance's primary driving power, contenders needed its backing. The Biden administration, on the other hand, has shown little excitement for alternate contenders for the role.
President Joe Biden issued a statement welcoming the announcement.
“I welcome the announcement that NATO will extend Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s term for an additional year. With his steady leadership, experience, and judgment, Secretary General Stoltenberg has brought our Alliance through the most significant challenges in European security since World War II,” Biden stated.
“Today, our Alliance is stronger, more united, and purposeful than it has ever been. I look forward to continuing the work with Secretary General Stoltenberg to further strengthen the Alliance next week at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, and ahead of the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. next year.”
NATO leaders will meet in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, next week to discuss crucial global security challenges. The summit, slated for July 11-12, will bring together heads of state, military leaders, and diplomats from the alliance's 31 member states at a critical juncture as Russia and China raise their threats.
The summit next year will be hosted in Washington and is expected to be momentous since it will celebrate the 75th anniversary of NATO's inception in 1949.
