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BRUSSELS – NATO decided Tuesday to extend Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s contract for another year, choosing to stay with an experienced leader as war rages on the alliance’s doorstep rather than trying to agree on a successor.
Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, has been the leader of the transatlantic security alliance since 2014, and his term has already been extended three previous times.
The decision means continuity at the helm of NATO as its 31 members grapple with the challenge of supporting Ukraine in fending off Moscow’s invasion while avoiding direct conflict between NATO and Russian forces.
Stoltenberg, 64, is widely seen across the coalition as a consistent and patient leader in building consensus.
In a tweet, Stoltenberg said he was honored by the decision to extend his term until October 1, 2024.
He said that “the transatlantic links between Europe and North America have guaranteed our freedom and security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our alliance is more important than ever.”
His next assignments include overseeing the shift of NATO forces to refocus on defense against any Russian attack, after decades in which the alliance focused on missions outside its borders, such as in Afghanistan and the Balkans.
He will also have to manage differences over how NATO should engage in Asia, where the United States is pressing for a greater role in confronting China, while others such as France insist that NATO should continue to focus on the North Atlantic region.
Diplomats and analysts give Stoltenberg high marks for keeping NATO together on Ukraine, balancing those clamoring for maximum support for Kiev and others urging greater caution out of fear of global conflict.
“NATO member states have decided logically enough that the best Secretary General currently on the market is the one they already have,” said Jimmy Shea, a former senior official at NATO Now. “Experience is especially important at one of the most testing times in NATO’s history.” “. With Chatham House Research Centre.
Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, has been the leader of the transatlantic security alliance since 2014, and his term has already been extended three previous times.
The decision means continuity at the helm of NATO as its 31 members grapple with the challenge of supporting Ukraine in fending off Moscow’s invasion while avoiding direct conflict between NATO and Russian forces.
Stoltenberg, 64, is widely seen across the coalition as a consistent and patient leader in building consensus.
In a tweet, Stoltenberg said he was honored by the decision to extend his term until October 1, 2024.
He said that “the transatlantic links between Europe and North America have guaranteed our freedom and security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our alliance is more important than ever.”
His next assignments include overseeing the shift of NATO forces to refocus on defense against any Russian attack, after decades in which the alliance focused on missions outside its borders, such as in Afghanistan and the Balkans.
He will also have to manage differences over how NATO should engage in Asia, where the United States is pressing for a greater role in confronting China, while others such as France insist that NATO should continue to focus on the North Atlantic region.
Diplomats and analysts give Stoltenberg high marks for keeping NATO together on Ukraine, balancing those clamoring for maximum support for Kiev and others urging greater caution out of fear of global conflict.
“NATO member states have decided logically enough that the best Secretary General currently on the market is the one they already have,” said Jimmy Shea, a former senior official at NATO Now. “Experience is especially important at one of the most testing times in NATO’s history.” “. With Chatham House Research Centre.
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