Jens Stoltenberg to Step Down as NATO Secretary General in October

Jens Stoltenberg, the long-serving Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has announced that he does not intend to seek a fourth term renewal, and is expecting to be replaced in October. In response to German media reports that suggested a possible extension of Stoltenberg's term, the NATO spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, issued a statement on Saturday confirming that the Secretary General will not extend his term of office.^[0]

Stoltenberg took office at NATO's Brussels headquarters on October 1, 2014, and has since then overseen the Western alliance through a number of international crises.^[1] This includes the NATO personnel and US forces leaving Afghanistan in August 2021, shortly before the capital Kabul fell to victorious Taliban forces, as well as the alliance's response to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war.^[1]

Stoltenberg has also been a respected secretary general and a bridge between the European allies and Washington during the Donald Trump presidency.^[1] He has been praised for his ability to handle complex international crises and for his commitment to the alliance.

It is expected that the 30 NATO member states will reach an informal agreement on the matter and extend Stoltenberg's term until a meeting to celebrate the alliance's 75th anniversary next year. However, Stoltenberg has confirmed that he does not intend to seek another extension of his mandate, and his term of office is expected to end in October of this year.^[2]

0. “Stoltenberg will not renew as NATO Secretary General amid reports of possible enlargement” msnNOW, 12 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/stoltenberg-will-not-renew-as-nato-secretary-general-amid-reports-of-possible-enlargement/ar-AA17nNe9

1. “NATO chief Stoltenberg plans to step down in October: Spokesperson” msnNOW, 12 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/nato-chief-stoltenberg-plans-to-step-down-in-october-spokesperson/ar-AA17ohxz

2. “NATO chief Stoltenberg plans to leave office in October – World News” Hurriyet Daily News, 12 Feb. 2023, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-chief-stoltenberg-plans-to-leave-office-in-october-180832