Nato extends chief Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate as Ukraine war drags on
- Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet that he is ‘honoured by Nato Allies’ decision’ to extend his term as Secretary General until October 1, 2024
- Former PM of Norway has been Nato’s top civilian official since 2014, and his term was due to expire last year but was extended after Russia invaded Ukraine
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will stay in office for another year, the 31-nation military alliance decided on Tuesday.
Stoltenberg said in a tweet that he is “honoured by Nato Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024.”
“The transatlantic bond between Europe and North America has ensured our freedom and security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” he said.
Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been Nato’s top civilian official since 2014. His term had been due to expire last year but was extended then to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
US President Joe Biden and his Nato counterparts had been due to name a successor when they meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. But the world’s biggest security organisation makes decisions by consensus, and no agreement could be found on a new candidate.
Most Nato countries had been keen to name a woman to the top post, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was thought to be a favourite after a meeting with Biden last month.