It had already become apparent in recent weeks (we reported), but now it is official: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s term of office will be extended from October onwards, for the fourth time.
“NATO Allies agreed on Tuesday (4 July 2023) to extend the mandate of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg by a further year, until 1 October 2024. The decision will be endorsed by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Vilnius Summit,” NATO reported. “Allies thanked the Secretary General for his leadership and commitment, which has been critical to preserving transatlantic unity in the face of unprecedented security challenges.”
Stoltenberg, who originally did not want to extend, said: “I am honoured by the decision of NATO Allies to extend my term as Secretary General. The transatlantic bond between Europe and North America has ensured our freedom and security for nearly seventy-five years, and in a more dangerous world, our great Alliance is more important than ever.”
Dorothee Frank, Head of editorial team