NATO has extended Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate until 2020, the alliance said in a press release.
“Allies agreed today to extend the mandate of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg by two years, until 30 September 2020,” the release said, adding that the allies “have full confidence in his ability to continue his dedicated work to advance NATO’s adaptation to the security challenges of the 21st century.”
Stoltenberg was appointed Secretary General Designate in March 2014 and took office on October 1, replacing Denmark’s Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Honoured and grateful that the 29 Allies have decided to extend my term as #NATO Secretary General until end of September 2020. Looking forward to continue working together to strengthen the Alliance and keep our citizens safe.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) December 12, 2017
A former Prime Minister of Norway, Stoltenberg has recently been pushing for better cooperation between the EU and NATO, particularly in cross-border military mobility, in what has been called the “military Schengen.”
The European Commission on November 10 said that it along with EU High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini will propose a plan on military mobility in Europe by March 2018.
Monday’s establishment by the Council of the European Union of the PESCO Permanent Structured Cooperation on security and defense will likely see an acceleration in the push for enhanced NATO-EU cooperation.
Stoltenberg is a proponent of increased defense spending among allies focused on the modernization of military capabilities, and of enhanced transatlantic cooperation.
