NATO allies have agreed to extend Jens Stoltenberg’s term as secretary-general by a year. 

“Honoured by NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024,” Stoltenberg tweeted. “The transatlantic bond between Europe & North America has ensured our freedom & security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” he added.

The decision, ahead of a summit of NATO leaders in Vilnius next week, is seen as a reflection of how politically sensitive the current moment is for the alliance, as well as how difficult it is for allies to find a high-profile candidate who is both available and acceptable to all alliance members.

The former Norwegian prime minister has served as the defensive alliance’s chief since 2014, earning widespread respect for his calm demeanor under pressure and ability to navigate the sensitivities of a large and diverse alliance. 

In 2017, allies opted to extend the secretary-general’s term until the end of September 2020. In 2019, they moved that date to September 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted another extension, which was set to run through September 2023. 

Over the past months, allies informally considered a variety of candidates, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, before opting yet again to extend the long-serving secretary-general’s term.

Clarification: This article has been updated to reflect the process for extending Jens Stoltenberg’s term.