Jens Stoltenberg will remain in office even longer as NATO chief, reports a major German newspaper.
Jens Stoltenberg will continue as NATO chief until April 2024. The German newspaper Welt am Sontag writes that according to Reuters.
The information originates from diplomatic sources who have not been named. The reason is said to be that the alliance wants stability while the war in Ukraine is ongoing and because of the Norwegian’s “outstanding achievements”.
His current contract is scheduled to expire on September 30.
According to the newspaper, there should already be an implicit agreement among the 30 member states on extending the contract, and that this will be formally decided in the coming weeks.
Stoltenberg relinquished his position as governor of the Norwegian central bank in March last year, after he got the job in February. He had not yet started his job as central bank governor, and thus continued as NATO chief when the war in Ukraine broke out.
According to Welt am Sonntag, it is desired that Stoltenberg chair NATO’s 75th anniversary conference, which will take place in Washington in April next year.
The newspaper also writes that when Stoltenberg retires, he can become president of the World Bank, as David Malpass will retire at that time.
Who will succeed Stoltenberg is not clear, but the newspaper mentions Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace as two strong candidates.
