NATO extends Stoltenberg term for a year due to Russia's war
CTV
With the threat of wider conflict hanging over Europe, NATO opted for stability on Thursday by extending Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's term in office for an extra year to help steer the 30-nation military alliance through the security crisis sparked by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Stoltenberg tweeted Thursday that he is "honoured" by the decision of NATO leaders to extend his term until Sept. 30, 2023.
"As we face the biggest security crisis in a generation, we stand united to keep our alliance strong and our people safe," he said, after U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts agreed to extend his term at a summit in Brussels.
The former Norwegian prime minister was named to NATO's top civilian post in October 2014. It's the second time that his term of office has been extended. His mandate was due to expire in September.
In a tweet, Biden said that Stoltenberg has "done a remarkable job leading and strengthening our Alliance -- particularly during this critical moment for international security."
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a gathering of top security officials Saturday that war with China was neither imminent nor unavoidable, despite rapidly escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the importance of renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart in avoiding "miscalculations and misunderstandings."