NATO Secretary General's Term Extended Again... Biden: "Stronger Alliance Than Ever" (Summary)

The term of Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will be extended by one year. U.S. President Joe Biden, considered a key figure in NATO, immediately expressed his welcome, stating, "Our alliance (NATO) is stronger, more united, and more determined than ever."

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (left), and U.S. President Joe Biden are meeting at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC on the 13th of last month (local time). 2023.06.14 [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 4th (local time), NATO announced that its highest decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council (NAC), decided to extend Secretary General Stoltenberg's term until October 1, 2024. This will be finally approved at the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on the 11th and 12th. The term of the NATO Secretary General is basically four years, but extensions are possible if there is consensus among member countries. Through Twitter, Secretary General Stoltenberg stated, "I am honored that NATO member countries have decided to extend my term until October 1, 2024," adding, "Our alliance is in a more important situation than ever."

Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister of Norway who took office in October 2014, has already had his term extended last year due to the impact of the Ukraine war, following his reappointment as NATO Secretary General. With this additional extension, he will serve as Secretary General for 10 years until next year, marking NATO's 75th anniversary. He is the second longest-serving Secretary General in history, following the late Joseph Luns, who served as the 5th Secretary General from 1971 to 1984.

Earlier, there were rumors about Stoltenberg's intention to step down and potential successors, but due to the prolonged Ukraine war and increased uncertainty caused by events such as the armed rebellion attempt by the Russian mercenary group Wagner, calls for an additional extension within NATO have gained strength. Reports also emerged that President Biden, a key figure in NATO, indirectly requested Stoltenberg to remain during a bilateral meeting last month. The NATO Secretary General requires unanimous consent from member countries, and U.S. support has traditionally been considered the most significant factor.

President Biden welcomed the extension in a statement, saying, "Secretary General Stoltenberg has led our alliance through the most significant challenges to European security since World War II with steady leadership, experience, and judgment." He emphasized, "Today, our alliance is stronger, more united, and more determined than ever," adding, "Ahead of the 75th anniversary NATO summit to be held in Washington, DC next year, I look forward to continuing to work with him to further strengthen the alliance at the summit next week."