Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap). Photo: Johan Falnes/NTB
In 2008, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was asked if he wanted to become Secretary General of NATO, but he quickly declined. Instead, Danish Anders Fogh-Rasmussen got the job.
The current Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health. Now it turns out he is also running for the position of head of NATO, the position Jens Stoltenberg currently holds.
NTB reported the case.
The idea of Store as leader of the alliance was floated at a meeting of foreign ministers at NATO in December 2008, said prime minister Ap. business today. Then it would be appropriate to take the position in 2009.
The British and German foreign ministers then asked if he could be a candidate to replace the Dutch Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.
– They are the most clear about it, but there are also the same signals from the team of the newly elected American president. It made me take it seriously, Store said.
But the position does not seem tempting for Støre.
– I listened to what they had to say, but quickly concluded no and shared it with Prime Minister Stoltenberg.
Støre said that he considers it his most important duty to be part of a government project.
– There I had important assignments, mainly related to the north and relations with Russia.
The then prime minister and current head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, confirmed that Støre informed him of the request. The person who actually got the job was Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh-Rasmussen.
Jens Stoltenberg took over after Fogh-Rasmussen, in 2014, and has held the post since then. Stoltenberg had a high reputation among allied nations, and was encouraged to broaden his involvement.
Støre has been Prime Minister of Norway since fall 2021.
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