When former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen steps down from his position as NATO’s secretary general, Norway’s former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will likely be waiting to take his place.
According to media reports, Stoltenberg’s appointment is almost certain. He was recommended over Franco Frattini, a former Italian foreign affairs minister and EU commissioner, and Manual Barroso, the current head of the European Commission, as well as United States President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron. They have all declared their support. “I think Jens Stoltenberg would be an excellent candidate, I’ve worked very closely with him and I think it would be very good to have such a candidate who has filled such a high office in his own country,” Cameron told parliament.
If appointed, Stoltenberg will become Norway’s first ever NATO Secretary General. The official announcement will be made during NATO’s summit in Wales in September. Jens has several good qualities,” Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg said, adding that it will be a big boost for Norwegian politics if Stoltenberg is named NATO’s new Secretary General.