Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: There is no mention of lifting sanctions in the latest US proposal, even though this issue is fundamental for Iran
Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Al Mayadeen: After receiving the American proposal, we are now preparing our new proposal
Shamkhani to Al Mayadeen: Iran will never give up its inherent rights
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Israeli threats to Iran are just pointless nonsense
Iranian Defense Minister to Al Mayadeen: Those who actually possess the power and ability to threaten Iran do not speak as such; they are simply incapable of doing so
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh to Al Mayadeen: Iran possesses enough power to render 'Israel' incapable of threatening it
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem after meeting with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of Iran’s positive role in the region and its support for the Palestinian Resistance and its people
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi after meeting with Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem: Iran is keen to assist Lebanon and stand by its side economically and politically, on the basis of mutual respect
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, during which they discussed regional developments
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: The death toll from the Israeli massacre targeting a tent sheltering displaced persons inside a school west of Khan Younis has risen to 14

NATO extends Stoltenberg's term until 2024

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Jul 2023 10:22
4 Min Read

The first time his term was extended was in October 2022 until September 30, 2023, due to the Ukraine crisis.

  • x
  • NATO extends Stoltenberg's term until 2024
    NATO extends Stoltenberg's term until 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's term of office has been extended for the second time since last year due to his contribution in facilitating Sweden's accession into the alliance as well as his role in guiding NATO's response in the Ukraine conflict, Sputnik reported on Wednesday citing sources close to the matter. 

The first time his term was extended was in October 2022 until September 30, 2023, due to the Ukraine crisis. Earlier this month, NATO extended his term for a second time until 2024.

This makes him the second-longest NATO Secretary General after former Dutch Foreign Minister Joseph Luns who held the post from 1971 to 1984.  

"First of all, negotiations are still ongoing on finalizing the ratification process for Sweden, and this is an issue to which Jens Stoltenberg has put a lot of effort, so the allies agreed that it would be the best for the alliance to extend his mandate so he can fulfill this task. Also, it is important for the alliance to support Ukraine as much as possible, and Jens Stoltenberg has shown great leadership and effort towards this direction, so the allies decided that it is better not to replace him, as the situation in Ukraine is ongoing, and negotiations on finalizing Swedish ratification are also ongoing," the source said, adding there were two female runners-up for the position. 

"It was Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, and Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, with Frederiksen being the most prominent candidate of the two. However, this didn’t proceed," they said.  

Read more: US's NATO strategy fails in the face of European division: Analysis

Related News

Ukraine’s role at NATO’s The Hague summit in Limbo: AFP

NATO pushes for fivefold increase in European air defense forces

Answering whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would be considered for the position again in 2024, the source said: "What I can say is that she is regarded as a very effective and successful European Commission president and she also has firsthand knowledge of the defense and geopolitical issues, as she was for a number of years the minister of defense of Germany. But it is up to the allies to decide and it's still very early and unreasonable to speculate on this topic."  

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the Ukraine crisis. As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungary's prime minister and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it considers Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections. 

Erdogan stated that mere changes in Swedish law regarding terrorism are insufficient for Ankara to approve its NATO bid.

Back in May, shortly after Erdogan's reelection, Stoltenberg said it was "absolutely possible" to decide on Sweden's NATO membership before the alliance's summit that was set for 11-12 July 2023, in Vilnius. 

On July 10, Stoltenberg said that Sweden has agreed to assist Turkey with the process of becoming an EU member state and help with visa liberalization after Ankara said it will transmit Sweden’s NATO membership bid to the Parliament.

As of now, no details have been divulged regarding the ratification deadline. 

Read more: Former NATO chief slams use of cluster munitions as 'reckless'

  • Nato
  • Sweden
  • Stoltenberg

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, center, lays a wreath at the tomb of martyred Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran's Araghchi visits Lebanon, honors martyr Sayyed Nasrallah

Israeli occupation forces inspect the site where the Israeli occupation forces said a projectile fired by Ansar Allah landed in the area of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine on Sunday, May 4, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Yemen ready to strike 'Israel' around the clock, says defense minister

In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian steps out from his plane as he arrives at Muscat, Oman, on May 27, 2025. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
MENA

Pezeshkian: No talks under pressure or bullying

In this Thursday, April 21, 2016 photo, cattle graze by an Israeli military APC in the occupied Golan Heights, Syria (AP)
Politics

Pastoral settlement, new weapon for displacement in West Bank

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS