Jens Stoltenberg, a member of the Norwegian Labour Party, served as the 34th prime minister of Norway and has been the 13th secretary general of NATO since 2014. Known for his cautious approach, he has worked to strengthen NATO's military capabilities and increase defense spending.
Jens Stoltenberg was born in Oslo on March 16, 1959.
From 1979 to 1981, Jens Stoltenberg worked as a journalist for Arbeiderbladet.
Jens Stoltenberg assumed office as the Leader of the Workers' Youth League in 1985.
In 1987, Jens Stoltenberg completed his postgraduate studies in Economics at the University of Oslo.
In 1990, Jens Stoltenberg started his career in government as a State Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment.
Jens Stoltenberg served as the Minister of Industry and Energy from October 7, 1993, to October 24, 1996.
Jens Stoltenberg served as the Minister of Finance from October 25, 1996, to October 17, 1997.
Jens Stoltenberg served as the Prime Minister of Norway from March 3, 2000, to October 19, 2001.
In 2001, Jens Stoltenberg was involved in a car accident where he crashed his Labour Party-owned car into a parked car, causing damages worth 8000 Norwegian kroner. He left the scene without leaving his contact information.
Jens Stoltenberg assumed office as the Leader of the Labour Party on April 6, 2002.
Jens Stoltenberg served as the 27th Prime Minister of Norway from October 17, 2005, to October 16, 2013.
Stoltenberg's government secured support for a long-term agreement to finance forest conservation in Norway, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by partnering with tropical countries to preserve rainforests.
Stoltenberg played a key role in promoting international financial cooperation during the financial crisis by attending the Progressive Governance Conference in Chile, where social democratic leaders from around the world met to discuss solutions to the crisis.
Stoltenberg and President Medvedev signed an agreement in Oslo, settling a long-standing marine border dispute in the Barents Sea since 1978.
Jens Stoltenberg was Prime Minister during the deadly terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya on 22 July 2011, where 77 people were killed. He called for 'more democracy, more openness, and more humanity, but never naïvete' in response.
In his New Year speech in 2013, Stoltenberg highlighted the significance of vaccinating children worldwide as a crucial step in saving lives and reducing child mortality.
On March 28, 2014, Jens Stoltenberg was appointed by NATO's North Atlantic Council as Secretary General of NATO and chairman of the North Atlantic Council, succeeding Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Jens Stoltenberg assumed office as the Secretary General of NATO.
In June 2015, Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of cooperation between NATO and Russia, stating that there was no immediate threat from the east. He highlighted the goal of maintaining cooperation that benefits both NATO and Russia.
The North Atlantic Council issued a statement regarding the extension of the mandate of the Secretary General of NATO.
Jens Stoltenberg served as the NATO Secretary General starting from July 10, 2018.
The North Atlantic Council made a decision to extend the mandate of the Secretary General of NATO.
Jens Stoltenberg was involved in NATO activities on November 19, 2019.
Following the 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike, Stoltenberg expressed solidarity with the U.S. and called for restraint from Iran.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the arrival of two Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) drones, Global Hawk, in Italy.
Jens Stoltenberg assumed the position of NATO Secretary General on January 30, 2020.
In February 2020, Stoltenberg spoke at the Munich Security Conference, discussing various global issues including military funding, Afghanistan, Russia's ambitions, and security challenges posed by China.
On 12 July 2020, Jens Stoltenberg appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, where he shared his musical preferences including songs by Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, and Smerz.
Stoltenberg spoke at the Munich Security Conference through a teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering mostly unremarkable comments.
Stoltenberg urged Russia to stop increasing its military presence near the Ukrainian border amidst tensions. Russian Defense Minister mentioned troops deployment in response to NATO activities.
Stoltenberg commended the efforts in training Afghan security forces to take charge of their country's security. This was mentioned as NATO began withdrawing its troops.
Stoltenberg criticized the cyberattack on Ukraine in 2022 and mentioned NATO's cooperation with Ukraine on data security. An agreement for enhanced cooperation was set to be signed.
On February 4th, 2022, Jens Stoltenberg was appointed as the incoming governor of Norges Bank. However, he later resigned from this position after accepting a renewed term as NATO secretary-general following a NATO summit in March 2022.
Stoltenberg expressed concerns at the Munich Security Conference about the lack of de-escalation in the Ukrainian crisis, highlighting Russia's continued military build-up. He also mentioned Putin's attempts to limit NATO's influence and control over sovereign countries.
On February 21, 2022, Jens Stoltenberg criticized Russia for acknowledging two self-proclaimed separatist regions in Donbas.
On March 4, 2022, Jens Stoltenberg announced that NATO would not implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine to prevent the conflict from escalating.
Jens Stoltenberg met with the troops at Ādaži Military Base on March 8, 2022.
On March 23, 2022, Jens Stoltenberg accused China of backing Russia politically and expressed concerns about potential material support for the Russian invasion.
The North Atlantic Council decided to extend the mandate of the Secretary General of NATO.
Between January 28 and February 4, 2023, Stoltenberg addressed a Chinese balloon incident, highlighting security challenges posed by China's technological advancements.
On February 12, 2023, a NATO spokesperson confirmed that Stoltenberg would not pursue a fourth term extension as NATO secretary-general.
February 13, 2023, Stoltenberg attributed the Russo-Ukrainian War to Russian President Putin and emphasized NATO's commitment to providing military aid to Ukraine.
Jens Stoltenberg delivered opening remarks at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers session in Brussels, Belgium on February 14, 2023.
The North Atlantic Council extended the mandate of the Secretary General of NATO.
The Secretary General of NATO highlighted the importance of building a secure cyberspace for all through the alliance.
Jens Stoltenberg's tenure as NATO Secretary General was extended until 1 October 2024, highlighting the continued trust and confidence in his leadership abilities within the organization.