NATO chief has 'no intention' to seek another extension of his term
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will end his term as planned in October, a spokesperson for the alliance said, after a newspaper reported a further extension was in the works, according to Reuters.
"The mandate of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been extended three times, and he has served for a total of almost nine years," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said late on Saturday.
"The Secretary-General's term comes to an end in October of this year and he has no intention to seek another extension of his mandate."
Earlier, Welt am Sonntag reported Stoltenberg's term was to be extended again as the alliance sought to maintain stability during the war in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg, an economist by training and a former leader of Norway's Labour Party, had his NATO term extended last year.
He was prime minister of Norway from 2000-01 and 2005-13 before becoming NATO chief the following year. He has also been finance minister and energy minister.