Could there be a new NATO chief? Stoltenberg leaves open idea of staying – National | 24CA News
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday left open the prospect that his time period could also be prolonged as senior officers from alliance member nations brazenly endorsed the concept – together with considered one of his potential successors.
Stoltenberg’s time period has already been extended thrice and he is because of step down in September after 9 years as secretary-general of the army alliance, which has assumed even higher significance since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
But NATO has struggled to discover a successor who may win the mandatory consensus amongst its 31 members, stretching from the United States by way of Europe to Turkey.
Asked if he had been persuaded to remain on throughout a go to to Washington this week, Stoltenberg mentioned: “I am responsible for all decisions that this alliance has to take except for one. And that is about my future. That is for the 31 allies to decide.”
The job historically goes to a senior European political determine however nobody can occupy the put up with out the assist of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s predominant energy.
Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, mentioned in February he was not in search of one other extension to his time period.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of a gathering of NATO protection ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg insisted this remained the case.
But he has repeatedly declined to say what he would do if requested to remain on by NATO’s members.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has mentioned brazenly he would really like the job and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been handled as a critical contender regardless of insisting she will not be a candidate, based on diplomats.
But on Thursday Frederiksen described the concept of Stoltenberg staying on as “a really good solution.”
“I very much like my job and I intend to keep it. So no, I am not on my way to NATO,” she informed Danish broadcaster DR.
Wallace is thought to be a protracted shot as many NATO members argue the put up ought to go to a former prime minister or president to make sure it has top-level political clout, notably when battle is raging on the alliance’s doorstep.
Many NATO nations have additionally insisted it’s excessive time the alliance has its first feminine boss, turning the highlight on Frederiksen, a Social Democrat who grew to become Denmark’s youngest prime minister in 2019 and received reelection final yr.
While some nations, notably in Western Europe, signaled assist for Frederiksen, others expressed discontent as a result of Denmark falls effectively wanting the NATO objective of spending 2% of GDP on protection. And some, notably in Eastern Europe, complained she could be the third NATO boss in a row to come back from a Nordic nation.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius mentioned if there was no signal of the alliance coalescing round a successor, he would welcome an extension for Stoltenberg.
“If we don’t agree on a candidate for the succession, NATO will not be able to make do without a secretary general. So I am naturally in favor of an extension, in particular as I value the cooperation (with Stoltenberg),” he informed reporters.
Asked about an extension for Stoltenberg, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen replied: “That option doesn’t sound bad to my ears.”
–Reporting by Andrew Gray; Additional reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen and Sabine Siebold; modifying by Grant McCool
