Brussels: As they consider further extending his nine years in charge, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that it was up to the alliance's members to decide if they wanted to replace him.

The 31 nations that make up NATO are now talking about finding a replacement to take his place as the alliance's secretary general ahead of a summit of leaders that will take place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius next month.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Stoltenberg, who has been in charge of the Western military alliance since 2014, already had his term extended by a year to October.

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Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, has emerged as a potential front-runner to succeed him. Ben Wallace, the defence minister of the United Kingdom, has also entered the race.

However, there hasn't been agreement among NATO members on a clear choice, and diplomats are increasingly speculating that Stoltenberg might be asked to stay.

The 64-year-old Stoltenberg reiterated that he does not have "any intention of seeking an extension" and that NATO members should make that decision.

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At a gathering of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg stated, "When it comes to my successor that is an issue to be decided by the 31 allies."
All decisions that this alliance must make must be mine, with the exception of the one regarding my future, which must be decided by the other 31 allies.

On Wednesday, a number of diplomats from NATO nations stated that, in the absence of a clear replacement, they would support keeping Stoltenberg in charge.

As a potential first female leader from the EU and having recently visited the United States, Frederiksen meets the criteria of some European allies.

But in order to emphasise a tougher stance against Russia, NATO countries on the eastern flank of the alliance have been pushing for someone from their region to take the helm.

Frederiksen, if selected, would be the third successive Scandinavian to lead NATO after Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark and Stoltenberg of Norway.

Wallace has been promoted by London, but many allies prefer a former head of state or government, and diplomats claim France prefers someone from an EU nation.

There is no formal selection procedure for the NATO secretary general, and in the past, the decision has occasionally been made based on a little-discussed candidate who emerged at the last minute.

Historically, the alliance's leader has come from Europe. Any extension for Stoltenberg would most likely last until the summit in Washington next year to commemorate the alliance's 75th anniversary.

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Antti Kaikkonen, the defence minister of Finland, stated that it "doesn't sound bad to my ears" to extend Stoltenberg's term.

Despite his excellent work, Stoltenberg has undoubtedly considered retiring at some point, according to Kaikkonen.
"We'll see what kind of response we come up with."