This week, Jens Stoltenberg traveled around the USA and Canada to prepare for the NATO summit, which will be held in Washington in a couple of weeks. Before the Nato chief takes the weekend (if one can do it in that job), news gets him in two hands. Jens Stoltenberg meets news in Washington before he went back to Europe after a whole week in the USA and Canada. Photo: Sissel Kruse Larsen / The NATO Alliance celebrates 75 years at the summit next month, but there are also several important decisions to be made. Stoltenberg highlights decisions on collective defence, more support for Ukraine and closer cooperation with partners in Asia. – These are difficult things, he says. This week, the Norwegian met US President Joe Biden in the White House and visited Ottawa and met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Canada is one of the NATO countries that still does not spend two percent of its GDP on defence. Stoltenberg met Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Wednesday. Photo: NATO He compares the preparations for the summit with negotiating settlements and compromises in the Storting and in government when he was prime minister. – It’s the same thing, you have to understand what is important for different countries. This week, among other things, we have put in place more support for Ukraine, he says. But there is still a lot of work to be done before the summit in July. Next week he flies to France to meet President Emmanuel Macron. – It is always difficult to get strong financial commitments in place, so we work a lot on that, says Stoltenberg. Nevertheless, he is confident that the anniversary in Washington will be a success. – There will be a good atmosphere, celebration and important decisions, says Stoltenberg to news. And maybe he can drive extra hard now. Because in the autumn he can finally lower his shoulders. US President Joe Biden said that he would like Stoltenberg to serve another ten years as NATO chief. Photo: Anders Tvegård / news “A little scary” with so much freedom The first of October this year is Stoltenberg’s last day at work. – And then I don’t quite know what to do, he says to news. The NATO chief reveals that he may have thought too little about what he will come up with when he is done. Because as long as he leads NATO, he will continue to spend all his time on it. – I get a freedom I have never had before in my life. It’s both a bit wonderful, but also a bit scary, says Stoltenberg and pulls on the smile band. He does not hide that the transition can be abrupt. – The second of October will be a strange day, when I no longer have an important office, an important position. He has ten years behind him in NATO and, before that, almost ten years as prime minister in Norway, he points out. – So there will be a transition, but I have to manage it too. Stoltenberg is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Ingrid. And more time in the homeland. – Although I am very happy in Brussels and traveling in NATO countries, I feel at home in Norway. I like the mountains, Nordmarka, Norwegians and everything familiar, he says. – Will there be a book about the time as NATO chief? – I have taken some notes. Writing about it would be very exciting, he says, but emphasizes that “it will also be decided” when he has finished his job. – NATO has cooperated well with the United States, and our relationship is very good, Trump said when he and Stoltenberg posed for photographers in the Oval Office in 2018. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP Meiner Trump has done a lot of good for NATO It’s autumn presidential election in the United States. Joe Biden, whom Stoltenberg met this week, will compete against Donald Trump, with whom the Norwegian has also worked closely as NATO leader. Last winter, Trump said that he would not necessarily protect other NATO countries if they were attacked, if they did not contribute enough to NATO. Stoltenberg is nevertheless confident that the US will be a “strong NATO ally”, regardless of who wins the election. He believes Trump has not primarily criticized NATO, but NATO allies for not spending enough money on NATO. – And that has changed, says Stoltenberg. This week he was able to report that 23 countries now spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defence, which is twice as many as five years ago. When asked if Stoltenberg heard anything else from Trump during the winter, Stoltenberg replies that it must be crystal clear that an attack on a NATO country triggers a response from the entire alliance. – Having said that, I worked with Trump for four years. He has his own style. One can disagree with much of what he says and does about climate and trade and other things. But when it came to NATO, as president he contributed to getting more American soldiers to Europe. He made very strong demands on NATO allies to spend more money on defence, which was a reasonable demand, and now European allies are delivering on that demand. He also stepped up support for Ukraine when he was president, says Stoltenberg. – So I am confident that despite major political disagreements on many issues when it comes to NATO, it will be handled, says Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg travels around to gather support before the summit. He compares the preparations to negotiating settlements and compromises in the Storting. Photo: NATO – An eternal project On Thursday, all member countries of NATO agreed that former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is their candidate for the new Secretary General. In practice, this means that Rutte will take over Stoltenberg’s job. – Mark Rutte will do a brilliant job, says the Norwegian. Stoltenberg says he knows Mark Rutte as a good friend and a good colleague from when both were prime ministers. He portrays Rutte as a politician who knows how to compromise, and as a relaxed and pleasant guy with a sense of humor – so he has the qualities needed to take NATO forward. And it is safe and good to leave the ship to him, says Stoltenberg. It hasn’t gone quite according to plan. Last year he “extended the contract” with NATO for the third time. Along the way, he has, among other things, given up his “dream job” as head of Noregs Bank. He was actually elected as head of NATO for four years. This is his tenth in the chief’s chair. – Unfortunately, it is never the case that you are completely finished in a job like Nato. Keeping the peace and ensuring security is an eternal project. So one has to leave the table, even if there are still undone tasks, says Jens Stoltenberg. Published 21.06.2024, at 23.11 Updated 21.06.2024, at 23.12
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Jens Stoltenberg on leaving NATO – differences if Trump wins against Biden – and Mark Rutte – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
