Stoltenberg Shifts To Norges Bank, Race To Succeed As Sec-Gen Hots Up

The Norges Bank has confirmed that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will take over as its next chief, but will not take up the position until the end of his term with NATO, coming on 30 September 2022.

• With Stoltenberg moving on, focus will turn to who could take over the head of NATO at a perilous time for the Western alliance.
• The NATO leaders' summit in Madrid, Spain on 29-30 June is the most likely time for the announcement of a successor.
• In mid-2021, Politico identified former presidents Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of Croatia and Dalia Grybauskaitė of Lithuania; and current Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid as potential frontrunners, with the alliance believed to favour a woman candidate and one from eastern Europe. Given the current escalation in tensions with Russia, the selection of a Sec-Gen from a former Warsaw Pact state would send a strong signal to Moscow, with many of these nations often having the most hawkish stances towards Russia.
• Former UK PM Theresa May and former foreign secretary Lord Hague have also been mentioned as potential candidates. While the US, UK, France and Germany have formed the historic core of NATO, the alliance now counts 21 of its 30 members coming from the EU. As such, the UK may find it difficult to have one of its own selected as the next Sec-Gen.