Selection of New NATO Secretary General May Conclude in First Quarter, Says US Permanent Representative

The selection of a new Secretary General for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is likely to be completed in the first quarter of this year. This was announced by the US permanent representative to NATO, Juliana Smith.

“I believe the allies are fully interested in concluding the selection process, likely in the first quarter of this calendar year. We are eager to finish this process as soon as possible,” said the American diplomat while commenting on the appointment of NATO's new Secretary General.

She refrained from making assumptions about who might succeed Jens Stoltenberg in this role. At the same time, Smith confirmed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is considering, in particular, the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has expressed a desire to replace Stoltenberg. “However, the selection process is ongoing,” Smith added.