Jens Stoltenberg was not too long ago succeeded as head of the US-led army bloc by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Former NATO Secretary Basic Jens Stoltenberg will chair the Munich Worldwide Safety Convention (MSC) as of subsequent yr, the Western-dominated group has introduced.
The Norwegian politician will take over from German diplomat Christoph Heusgen after the convention’s 61st gathering in February 2025, MSC stated in a press launch printed on Tuesday.
Final week, Stoltenberg was changed as head of NATO by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, after a decade on the helm. Throughout that point, Stoltenberg oversaw a gradual improve in protection spending, and the addition of 4 new members to the US-led bloc – Montenegro (2017), North Macedonia (2020), Finland (2023), and Sweden (2024).
A powerful backer of Ukraine in its battle with Russia, Stoltenberg has supported the concept of permitting Kiev to make use of Western weapons in long-rang strikes on Russian territory – regardless of warnings from Moscow.
“I’ve devoted my total political life to sustaining peace. It’s a nice honor for me to function Chairman of the Munich Safety Convention and make a contribution to its mission ‘peace by means of dialogue.’,” Stoltenberg stated within the press launch.
“Few worldwide platforms are as necessary because the MSC to advertise battle prevention, dialogue, and worldwide cooperation.”
The Munich Safety Convention was the discussion board at which Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his 2007 speech, warning in opposition to continued growth of the US-led army bloc in the direction of the east.
“It’s apparent that NATO growth doesn’t have any relation with the modernization of the Alliance itself or with making certain safety in Europe,” the Russian chief stated, branding it “a severe provocation.”
The speech has turn into broadly seen as a turning level in Russia’s stance on NATO, marking a extra hostile relationship between the 2 sides, following seemingly failed makes an attempt at peaceable dialogue.
Moscow has careworn that one of many key objectives in launching its army operation in Ukraine in 2022 was to stop the nation from becoming a member of NATO. Russia views the battle a de facto proxy struggle with the Western army bloc.
Supply hyperlink
