Biden to host outgoing NATO secretary-general Stoltenberg as competition to replace him heats up

President Joe Biden will be hosting outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Monday for discussions as the race to find Stoltenberg’s successor intensifies. Stoltenberg, who has led NATO since 2014 and had his tenure extended three times, announced earlier this year that he would step down when his current term ends in September. With the annual NATO summit approaching in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month, the competition to replace him is heating up.

The search for the next NATO secretary-general has seen British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak advocating for U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace directly to President Biden. The U.S. president has also met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, another potential candidate for the position. When asked about the NATO job during a press conference with Sunak, Biden acknowledged Wallace’s qualifications but emphasized the ongoing discussions among NATO leaders to reach a consensus on the successor. Biden’s opinion carries significant weight as the United States is the largest spender on defense within the alliance.

Following her meeting with Biden, Frederiksen downplayed her candidacy and refrained from discussing the upcoming vacancy, stating her reluctance to engage in speculative conversations about NATO. Notably, NATO has never had a female secretary-general.

As for Denmark, the country has fallen short of NATO’s target for members to allocate 2% of their gross domestic product to military budgets by 2030. However, the centrist Danish government recently announced plans to invest approximately 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in defense over the next ten years, citing a “serious threat picture.”

In addition to discussing the succession process, Biden and Stoltenberg are expected to address Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and efforts to persuade Turkey, a fellow NATO member, to stop blocking Sweden’s accession to the alliance. Both Sweden and Finland, historically unaligned militarily, sought NATO membership jointly after being unsettled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Initially, Turkey opposed the inclusion of both countries, but later agreed to Finland’s membership while maintaining its objection to Sweden.

Publicly expressing confidence, Biden has assured that Sweden’s membership in NATO will soon become a reality. Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken share the hope that Sweden will join the NATO fold before the allied leaders convene in Lithuania on July 11-12.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about NATO succession

More about NATO succession

• White House Official Website
• NATO Official Website
• Reuters Article on NATO Secretary-General Succession
• BBC News Article on Biden’s Meeting with Stoltenberg
• The Guardian Article on UK’s Defense Minister as a Contender
• CNN Article on Denmark’s Defense Spending
• Reuters Article on Efforts to Persuade Turkey and Sweden’s NATO Membership
• NATO Summit Official Website