The NATO countries have decided this Tuesday to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate as Allied Secretary General for one more year, until October 2024, the Atlantic Alliance and the Norwegian politician himself have reported on social networks.

“I am honored by the decision of the NATO allies to extend my term as Secretary General until October 1, 2024,” said Stoltenberg, whose term as NATO’s political chief was originally due to expire in October 2022 but was extended for another year by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now the allies take this same step to avoid an uncertain conclave in a context of war.

In the same message, the former Norwegian prime minister pointed out the importance of the link between Europe and North America “guarantor of freedom and security for almost 75 years”. “In a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” she said.

In this way, the allies make official the new extension of Stoltenberg’s mandate, which different sources allied to Europa Press already reported last week and which some in the organization see as an “imperfect, but necessary” decision. The extension will be endorsed by NATO leaders at next week’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

All after Stoltenberg himself said in recent weeks that he was not looking for a new extension, after being elected in 2014 and accept two extensionsalthough he also admitted that his future was in the hands of the allies.

Weeks ago, NATO sources explained to Europa Press that the most likely scenario, given this situation of war and without a clear candidate for succession, was to extend the mandate of the Scandinavian leader rather than reach an agreement for his replacement and they understood that his continuity in office “did not depend solely on his intentions.”

Now the former Norwegian prime minister will remain in office until the summit of leaders scheduled in the United States in July of next year, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Atlantic alliance. With this maneuver, NATO will gain time to think about new candidates and better direct the debate.