Relations between NATO and Russia are at their worst since the Cold War. Now the western military alliance has to choose a successor for Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Amid the serious tensions with Russia, NATO must look for a successor to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg has been appointed as the future governor of Norway’s central bank. He is expected to take office by December at the latest. His term at NATO expires on September 30th.
“I’m grateful for the trust and I’m looking forward to the task,” said the 62-year-old, who was connected via video at a press conference by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance on Friday. However, it is unclear whether Stoltenberg will move back to Norway of his own free will after seven years or only because he saw no chance of a further contract extension with NATO.
Mark Rutte as the new NATO Secretary General?
Who follows Stoltenberg is open. According to information from alliance circles, former British Prime Minister Theresa May is said to be interested in the post. The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as well as the former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis have recently been named as possible successors to Stoltenberg.
In principle, however, it is usually the case that the people initially named do not become it in the end. A decision by the 30 alliance states should be made at the latest at the NATO summit in June. It must be unanimous. In the run-up to the determination, there are usually confidential talks between individual heads of state and government and top diplomats.
Stoltenberg caused resentment in the Ukraine crisis
Stoltenberg gained recognition for his work as a skilful mediator between the sometimes very different interests of the now 30 NATO countries. The Norwegian is particularly credited with moderating the dispute over defense spending by the European allies, which escalated during US Donald Trump’s term in office. At times, Trump even threatened that the United States would leave the alliance, which could have led to a de facto collapse of the transatlantic alliance.
However, especially in the current Ukraine crisis, the Norwegian repeatedly caused dissatisfaction. In western and southern European countries in particular, there was criticism behind closed doors that Stoltenberg, like the USA, repeatedly spoke of a high risk of war and the topic of NATO’s preparations for the worst-case scenario. From the point of view of critics, such rhetoric could contribute to a further escalation.
There is a certain parallel between Stoltenberg and his predecessor Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He left office in 2014 after gaining a reputation as a “rouser” against Russia.
Before becoming NATO Secretary General, Stoltenberg was Prime Minister of Norway from 2005 to 2013. The social democrat enjoys a high reputation in his home country. His candidacy for the post at the central bank was controversial in Norway, among other things because of his close friendship with the Social Democratic Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støhre. After the decision for him, some parties rumbled.
Whether he’s leaving NATO completely voluntarily or not, Stoltenberg is now the man with the longest tenure in the alliance’s recent history. He even overtook the German Manfred Wörner. He was the Alliance’s top international official from 1988 until his death in 1994.
Source: Stern
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