The Secretary General of NATO is the main official in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. His responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the alliance and the North Atlantic Council. Today, Jens Stoltenberg, the ex-prime minister of Norway, is at the top leadership post in NATO.
Origin
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was born in 1960 in a family well known in political circles. His father, Turvald Stoltenberg, was at that time in Norway the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The early childhood of the future head of NATO took place in Yugoslavia, where his father stayed as ambassador. At that time, his older sister Camilla took an active part in the activities of the communist organization Red Youth. Under the influence of the sister, the future Secretary General of NATO was an active participant in demonstrations against the Vietnam War.
Brief Biographical Information
Jens Stoltenberg's career began in the Arbeiderbladet newspaper. This is the official mouthpiece of the left forces, having a significant influence in the public life of Norway. The future Secretary General of NATO worked in the publication as a journalist.
- From 1985 to 1989, he directed the activities of the youth organization of the Norwegian Labor Party.
- In 1993-1996 worked as Minister of Trade and Energy of the country.
- In 1996-1997 headed the Ministry of Finance.
- In March 2000, he began his activities as prime minister of the country, but quickly completed it. In the parliamentary elections in September 2001, his party received less than 25% of the vote. For all its history it is the worst result.
- In 2002, Jens Stoltenberg stands at the head of the party and leads it to victory in the next election. In 2005, the Norwegian Labor Party, together with the centrists and the left, manages to form the backbone of the ruling coalition.
- During the 2009 election, a majority in parliament that succeeded in reaching a coalition enables Jens Stoltenberg to create a new government.
NATO Secretary General
In March 2014, Jens becomes Secretary General and Chair of the NATO Council. The author of the nomination initiative is German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She was supported by the United States and the rest of the alliance. Inauguration took place in October this year.
About predecessor
His predecessor, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has been in office for the previous five years, from 2009 to 2014. According to experts, his activities in the areas declared priority (relations with Moscow and the Afghan war) did not lead to particular success.
In February 2015, after Ukraine recognized the Russian Federation as an aggressor country, the statement of the Secretary General of NATO (now former) was significant, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Russian aggression poses the most serious danger to Europe.
About the most important area of work
According to observers, the priority in the work of the new head of NATO, as in previous times, is to build relations with Russia, and to formulate an assessment of its foreign policy by President V. Putin. Even before his appointment, Jens Stoltenberg subjected Russian politics to merciless criticism, and declared the Russian threat to the stability and security of European countries.
As the head of NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg has repeatedly stated the need to increase the military power of the alliance, including nuclear, to prevent attempts by Russia to violate international laws. A promising statement was made by the NATO Secretary General at the very beginning of his activity on the need for joint opposition of the countries - members of the alliance to the Russian threat, which concerns the eastern states.
About renewal of sanctions
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg appealed to world leaders with an appeal to extend sanctions against Russia caused by the conflict in Ukraine. Restrictions must be extended until the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the politician said.
About Block Split Attempts
Recently, NATO has accused Russia of trying to split the alliance. The Secretary General at the same time expresses sincere confidence in the futility of these attempts in view of the unity of the members of the North Atlantic bloc.
About "bullying" neighbors by Russia
NATO Secretary General in a statement at a Brussels press conference earlier this year accused Russia of allegedly being ready to use military power to intimidate neighbors and redraw the borders of Europe.
"Having triggered a humanitarian crisis in Syria, Russia uses nuclear weapons to threaten peace, " said the head of the alliance.
According to I. Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, such attacks on the growing “Russian threat” are regular before the US Congress discusses the amount of funding for military needs, as noted in an interview with the media.
