Chief Stoltenberg resigns – NATO states under pressure Iranian President Raisi considers the protests a failure

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg plans to step down from his position in the fall of this year as planned, putting pressure on alliance states to search for a successor. “He has no intention of seeking a further extension of his mandate,” his spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said surprisingly clearly on Sunday evening. Stoltenberg’s mandate has already been renewed three times and he has been in office for almost nine years, she said at the request of the German news agency.

There had previously been renewed speculation that the 63-year-old’s term could be extended again amid Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine – at least until the anniversary summit scheduled in Washington in 2024 to mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance.

At the same time, diplomats pointed out that another extension could give the impression that NATO would not agree with anyone. Alliance circles also said France, Germany and Britain also favored a leadership change in the fall – despite Stoltenberg’s proven qualities.

Stoltenberg’s term was last extended for another year until September 30, 2023, in March, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In fact, the former Norwegian head of government had already wanted to stop last year and return to his homeland. There he would have wanted to become head of the central bank.

Stoltenberg has mainly been recognized as a skilled mediator between the sometimes very divergent interests of the now 30 NATO countries. He is particularly credited with moderating the dispute over defense spending by the European allies, which escalated during the tenure of US President Donald Trump. Trump even threatened at times that the United States would leave the alliance. Most recently, Stoltenberg coordinated the alliance’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and campaigned for extensive arms shipments to the attacked country.

At more than eight years, Stoltenberg is already the second longest-serving Secretary General in the alliance’s history. The Dutchman Joseph Luns has been the most senior international official of the Alliance for the longest time. He served from 1971 to 1984.

Who could become NATO’s next Secretary General was open to the end. In alliance circles, for example, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis were mentioned as possible candidates. In principle, however, it is usually the case that the initially named persons do not become it in the end. A decision by the 30 alliance states must be taken at the latest in July at the NATO summit in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. It must be unanimous. Before the decision is made, there are usually confidential discussions between individual heads of state and government and top diplomats. (aeg/sda/dpa)