Should NATO extend Stoltenberg's term as leader?
As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday, there is a lot for them to discuss. Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive has just begun, and key decisions will face allies at the NATO Summit in Vilnius less than a month away. One of those decisions may be confirming the "who"--and also the "when"--of changing NATO's top leader in the midst of an ongoing war.
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When and where will the next NATO summit take place?
Should NATO members accept Stoltenberg's decision to step down? Or should he be pressed to stay on as NATO navigates the fierce fighting and political choices ahead; until the path of the war in Ukraine is better known, perhaps in early 2024? Alliance members may decide as soon as their July 11-12 NATO Summit in Vilnius.
Whether in September or later, when Stoltenberg does depart and a new secretary general is needed, whom should the allies select?
To be sure, NATO is past due to join the growing club of glass ceiling breakers. That achievement must be weighed in the context of giving both any prospective candidate and the Alliance the best conditions for success. The conditions facing the next secretary general could not be more challenging. There will be no quiet time for a transition before assertive transatlantic leadership and momentous decisions will be required.
Most immediately, it is critical that NATO solidarity and momentum not slacken in backing Ukraine's military success over Russia. By the end of this year, the war in Ukraine will likely have moved into a new stage, either--and hopefully--toward a full Ukrainian victory or into a steady stalemate. Until then, and as Vilnius approaches, the war and other major issues--Sweden's NATO membership, defense spending levels, confronting China's challenges--will demand unrelenting leadership and diplomacy. The months ahead are not optimum for farewelling NATO's most capable leader--or for welcoming a new one. Proceed with caution!
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What kind of support has NATO provided to Ukraine?
Charles Barry is a visiting research fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. Since 1990, he has assisted senior US and NATO officials in developing three NATO Strategic Concepts and preparing for fourteen NATO summits. These views are his own and do not reflect those of the US Department of Defense or the National Defense University.