By Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Jens Stoltenberg is expected to be asked to remain as NATO secretary general for another year, according to a source familiar with the discussions and a U.S. official, after the alliance has struggled to decide on a replacement ahead of a mid-July summit in Lithuania.
Stoltenberg, a Norwegian who has spent nine years in the post and is due to step down at the end of September, has broad support among the alliance and continues to be an effective leader, the source, who requested anonymity, told Reuters.
“The (Biden) administration is coming around the idea of Stoltenberg staying on for another year,” said the U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
“It doesn’t look like there is consensus at the moment within the alliance on his replacement.”
Chances of Stoltenberg being asked to extend his tenure for a fourth time have increased as the summit in Vilnius has neared, with allies fearing a show of disunity as NATO continues to respond to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Whoever is in the role faces the twin challenges of keeping allies together in supporting Ukraine while guarding against any escalation that would draw NATO directly into a war with Russia.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace declared last week that he would like the job. But, as some governments push for a first female NATO secretary-general, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also emerging as a serious contender.
Frederiksen met U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington earlier this month, before Stoltenberg visited the White House this week for talks with Biden.
U.S. officials believe there is a range of different candidates and that Biden thinks highly of all of them, including Denmark’s prime minister, the source said.
Biden believes Stoltenberg has done a tremendous job during a challenging time, a view held by many other allies, the source added.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Steve Holland; writign by Simon Lewis; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
