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NATO Picks Former Norwegian Premier as Its Next Leader Norwegian to Lead NATO as It Is Poised for Bigger Role
(about 9 hours later)
BRUSSELS — Former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway will lead NATO starting on Oct. 1, the alliance announced Friday.BRUSSELS — Former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway will lead NATO starting on Oct. 1, the alliance announced Friday.
The appointment of Mr. Stoltenberg, 55, comes as the United States reaffirms its commitment to the Western military alliance as a way of containing an increasingly assertive Russia led by President Vladimir V. Putin.The appointment of Mr. Stoltenberg, 55, comes as the United States reaffirms its commitment to the Western military alliance as a way of containing an increasingly assertive Russia led by President Vladimir V. Putin.
Mr. Putin’s decision to order troops to seize Crimea this month and his blunt rejection of criticism from Europe and the United States seem likely to reinvigorate NATO and give the alliance a central role as a counterweight to Moscow. Mr. Putin’s decision to order troops to seize Crimea and his rejection of criticism from Europe and the United States seem likely to reinvigorate NATO and give the alliance a central role as a counterweight to Moscow.
Mr. Stoltenberg, whose appointment by NATO member countries was widely expected, will succeed Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a Dane who will have served more than five years in the post when he steps down in October. Mr. Stoltenberg, whose appointment by NATO member countries was widely expected, will succeed Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a Dane who will have served more than five years in the post when he steps down.
Among the challenges Mr. Stoltenberg faces is figuring out how the alliance should define collective security if Mr. Putin tries to expand Russia’s influence across other parts of Ukraine and into other countries that were part of the Soviet bloc but that are not members of NATO.Among the challenges Mr. Stoltenberg faces is figuring out how the alliance should define collective security if Mr. Putin tries to expand Russia’s influence across other parts of Ukraine and into other countries that were part of the Soviet bloc but that are not members of NATO.
Mr. Stoltenberg was prime minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2013. He is also the leader of the Labour Party in Norway and serves as a United Nations special envoy on climate change.Mr. Stoltenberg was prime minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2013. He is also the leader of the Labour Party in Norway and serves as a United Nations special envoy on climate change.
In an apparent reference to Mr. Stoltenberg’s suitability for the post — particularly since Russia’s annexation of Crimea — the alliance said in a posting on its website that he had “frequently called for NATO to focus on security challenges close to allied territory” while serving as the Norwegian prime minister.In an apparent reference to Mr. Stoltenberg’s suitability for the post — particularly since Russia’s annexation of Crimea — the alliance said in a posting on its website that he had “frequently called for NATO to focus on security challenges close to allied territory” while serving as the Norwegian prime minister.
Another challenge Mr. Stoltenberg faces is disgruntlement among Americans who feel that European members of NATO do not allocate enough spending to the alliance and leave Americans paying disproportionately for European defense.Another challenge Mr. Stoltenberg faces is disgruntlement among Americans who feel that European members of NATO do not allocate enough spending to the alliance and leave Americans paying disproportionately for European defense.
But in its posting, the alliance highlighted how Mr. Stoltenberg had been a strong supporter of military spending as prime minister. The alliance also suggested that he was uniquely well placed to goad other European members to contribute more. “Norway is today one of the allies with the highest per capita defense expenditure,” the alliance said. Mr. Stoltenberg “is a strong supporter of enhanced trans-Atlantic cooperation, including better burden-sharing across the Atlantic,” it said. But in its posting, the alliance highlighted how Mr. Stoltenberg has been a strong supporter of military spending.
Mr. Rasmussen, the departing head of NATO, wrote on Twitter on Friday that Mr. Stoltenberg was “the right man to build on NATO’s record of strength & success" at a time when the crisis in Ukraine "shows need for continued strong & determined leadership.”