Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As Russia's airstrikes on Ukraine continue into their second month, the possibility of Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), being reappointed after his term ends this September has increased.
According to major foreign media on the 23rd (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO member country leaders will gather in Brussels, Belgium on the 24th to discuss issues including Ukraine. It is expected that Stoltenberg's reappointment will also be discussed at this meeting. Former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg has been leading NATO since 2014, and his term was extended by two years in 2019.
Stoltenberg, who was scheduled to become Governor of the Central Bank of Norway starting December this year, was expected to announce his successor at the annual meeting in Madrid, Spain in June, ahead of his term ending in September. Until early this year, internal discussions about his successor had been ongoing, but considering the French presidential election scheduled for next month, and with Russia's airstrikes on Ukraine erupting last month, opinions began to emerge that changing the head of NATO, which is at the center of this conflict, at this time would not be easy.
The United States has expressed support for Stoltenberg's reappointment. Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Advisor, said, "Secretary General Stoltenberg has performed his role perfectly and has shown pivotal leadership within NATO," adding, "He himself is a true asset to the alliance." Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, also expressed support for Stoltenberg's reappointment in a foreign media interview the day before, saying, "Changing the captain in the middle of a storm is not an easy task." Kaagsa Ollongren, Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, said, "It is important that we all know and can trust someone. Secretary General Stoltenberg is that person."
When rumors of reappointment surfaced, Stoltenberg told reporters that the decision is up to the 30 allied countries. He said, "My focus is on preparing for tomorrow's summit at the center of the most serious security crisis we have faced in decades," adding, "I will leave this matter (the reappointment decision) to be decided by the allied countries."
The Norwegian Ministry of Finance stated that it is aware Stoltenberg may not be able to assume the position of Central Bank Governor at the end of this year and is preparing for such a situation.
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