BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥� With the threat of wider conflict hanging over Europe, NATO opted for stability on Thursday by extending Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg鈥檚 term in office for an extra year to help steer the 30-nation military alliance through the security crisis sparked by Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine.
Stoltenberg tweeted Thursday that he is 鈥渉onored鈥� by the decision of NATO leaders to extend his term until Sept. 30, 2023.
鈥淎s we face the biggest security crisis in a generation, we stand united to keep our alliance strong and our people safe,鈥� he said, after U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts agreed to extend his term at a summit in Brussels.
The former Norwegian prime minister was named to NATO鈥檚 top civilian post in October 2014. It鈥檚 the second time that his term of office has been extended. His mandate was due to expire in September.
In a tweet, Biden said that Stoltenberg has 鈥渄one a remarkable job leading and strengthening our Alliance 鈥� particularly during this critical moment for international security.鈥�
In February, Norway鈥檚 government appointed Stoltenberg as head of the Scandinavian country鈥檚 central bank and said it hoped he could start in his new role around Dec. 1.
In Oslo, Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum confirmed that Stoltenberg had resigned from the job. Temporary governor Ida Wolden Bache has been nominated in his place and her appointment is expected to be confirmed later Thursday.
鈥淥f course I would like to see Jens Stoltenberg become our next central bank governor, but we are in the middle of a dramatic situation in Europe and I have great understanding that he prioritizes continuing in the important role he has in NATO,鈥� Slagsvold Vedum said.
Stoltenberg, 63, has described Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine as 鈥渢he most serious security situation we have been in for decades.鈥�
Stoltenberg has been praised for steering NATO through a difficult and divisive period under the Trump administration, when the U.S. threatened not to come to the aid of member countries that weren鈥檛 spending enough on defense.
Speaking to reporters on an Air Force One flight to Brussels on Wednesday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden and Stoltenberg have 鈥渄eveloped a relationship of trust.鈥�
鈥淪ecretary-General Stoltenberg has played an instrumental role in helping secure the powerful unity you鈥檝e seen at NATO through this crisis,鈥� Sullivan said
Stoltenberg was twice prime minister in Norway 鈥� from 2000 to 2001 and then again from 2005 to 2013 鈥� and he also served as finance minister, and industry and energy minister.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St酶re told Norwegian news agency NTB that Stoltenberg had done 鈥渁 solid job鈥� as NATO chief. 鈥淣ever before has the alliance been stronger, and never before in the alliance鈥檚 history has unity been more important.鈥�
Wolden Bache was due to be formally be named the central bank chief later Thursday for a six-year term.
鈥淣orges Bank has great respect for Mr Stoltenberg鈥檚 decision made in the light of his very important responsibilities as Secretary General of NATO," she said.
Prior to Thursday鈥檚 announcement, speculation had been rife that a woman would be named at the helm of the world鈥檚 biggest security organization for the first time.
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Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report.
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This story has been corrected to show that Stoltenberg served as Norwegian prime minister from 2000 to 2001 and then again from 2005 to 2013 -- not from 2005 to 2013 and from 2002 to 2014.
Lorne Cook, The Associated Press
