A week before the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, U.S. President Joe Biden commended NATO’s decision to extend the leadership term of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Norwegian politician has, according a July 4 White House statement, “brought our Alliance through the most significant challenges in European security since World War II.”
Biden begins by saying unequivocally “I personally welcome the announcement” about Stoltenberg’s additional year at the helm. The President credits Stoltenberg with “steady leadership, experience, and judgement.” Stoltenberg became NATO Secretary General in 2014.
Honoured by #NATO Allies' decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024. 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.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) July 4, 2023
Stoltenberg tweeted that he was “honored” by NATO’s decision to extend his term, writing “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.” (The Alliance will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, a milestone Biden also mentions.)
For many of those 75 years, including most of Stoltenberg’s decade in the top spot, NATO commanded a spot in the public consciousness as a defensive shield, even a relic, more than an active defense force.
Many critics, especially in North America, portrayed the venerable Alliance as a superannuated organization, less necessary with the purported end of the Cold War. (Former U.S. President Donald Trump once called NATO obsolete, before reversing that opinion.)
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has altered the calculus between America and its European allies, an alteration that will be reflected in the Vilnius agenda.
One week at #NATO– starting with a trip to Vilnius 🇱🇹 where the #NATOSummit will take place in July. pic.twitter.com/UugUaJdDjn
— Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) June 30, 2023
Stoltenberg’s background — he is a former Prime Minister of Norway and a UN Special Envoy on Climate Change — is bullet-pointed below, courtesy of Nato.int.
- 2005-2013: Prime Minister of Norway
- 2002-2014: Leader of the Norwegian Labor Party
- 2000-2001: Prime Minister of Norway
- 1996-1997: Minister of Finance
- 1993-1996: Minister of Industry and Energy
- 1991-2014: Member of Parliament
- 1990-1991: State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment
- 1985-1989: Leader of the Norwegian Labour Youth
