29 June 2023 at 17:51 AFP sources: NATO countries agree to extend Stoltenberg’s term NATO countries have agreed to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s term as secretary general and will make a formal announcement next week, diplomatic sources tell AFP. Stoltenberg has already had the period extended by one year, until October, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He has been in office since 2014. Several NATO diplomats confirm that the 31 member states have agreed to extend the period by one year after struggling to find a suitable replacement before the summit in Vilnius in two weeks, writes the news agency. Others who were considered current candidates, including Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Britain’s Defense Minister Ben Wallace, have withdrawn their candidacy. The US ambassador to NATO tells AFP and several other journalists that there will be an announcement about the secretary general “in the next few days”. VG has previously written that Stoltenberg is the only remaining candidate. (NTB)
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