Jens Stoltenberg is expected to be asked to stay on as NATO Secretary General for another year. This was reported by Reuters, citing sources.
Stoltenberg, who spent nine years in the post and is set to step down at the end of September, has broad support among Alliance members and continues to be an effective leader, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"The administration (of U.S. President Joe Biden - ed.) is inclined to believe that Stoltenberg will remain in office for another year. It does not appear that at this point there is a consensus in the Alliance on his replacement," said the American official, who also spoke on conditions of anonymity.
The chances that Stoltenberg will be asked to extend his mandate again are increasing as the Vilnius summit approaches, as allies fear a show of NATO disunity amid Russia's war against Ukraine.
Whoever fills this role faces a dual task: to preserve the unity of the allies in support of Ukraine and at the same time to prevent any escalation that would draw NATO directly into war with Russia.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said last week that he would like to get this post. But with some governments pushing for the first woman to become NATO's Secretary General, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also becoming a serious contender.
Frederiksen met U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington earlier this month, before Stoltenberg visited the White House this week for talks with Biden.
U.S. officials say there are a number of different candidates, and Biden has high regard for all of them, including the Danish Prime Minister, the source said.
Biden believes Stoltenberg has done a tremendous job at a difficult time, a sentiment shared by many other allies.
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