Who will replace Jens Stoltenberg as secretary general of Nato?

Sean O’Grady looks at some of the candidates mooted to take over in 2024

Jens Stoltenberg (left) speaks with Joe Biden at the Nato summit in Vilnius (Reuters)

There was rightly much talk at the Nato summit about Sweden acceding to Nato membership, a new partnership with Japan, and help with post-war construction in Ukraine, as well as discussion of continuing military support for the war-torn country, cluster bombs, and Ukraine’s path to becoming a full ally. But there was also much speculation about who the next secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is going to be.

Is there a vacancy?

Yes and no. A vacancy was due to arise this year, but given the war in Ukraine and the impressive performance of the incumbent secretary general, Nato leaders have decided to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s term by a further year, thus postponing, or least de-escalating, the politicking over the succession for a while.