View source for Jens Stoltenberg

{{Short description|Norwegian politician (born 1959)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | name                = Jens Stoltenberg
 | image               = File:JensStoltenberg (cropped).jpg
 | caption             = Stoltenberg in 2025
 | office              = [[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]]
 | term_start          = 4 February 2025
 | term_end            = 
 | primeminister       = [[Jonas Gahr Støre]]
 | predecessor         = [[Trygve Slagsvold Vedum]]
 | successor           = 
 | primeminister1      = [[Thorbjørn Jagland]]
 | term_start1         = 25 October 1996
 | term_end1           = 17 October 1997
 | predecessor1        = [[Sigbjørn Johnsen]]
 | successor1          = [[Gudmund Restad]]
 | order2              = 13th
 | office2             = Secretary General of NATO
 | term_start2         = 1 October 2014
 | term_end2           = 1 October 2024
 | deputy2             = [[Alexander Vershbow]]<br />[[Rose Gottemoeller]] <br />[[Mircea Geoană]]
 | predecessor2        = [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]]
 | successor2          = [[Mark Rutte]]
 | office3             = [[Prime Minister of Norway]]
 | monarch3            = [[Harald V]]
 | term_start3         = 17 October 2005
 | term_end3           = 16 October 2013
 | predecessor3        = [[Kjell Magne Bondevik]]
 | successor3          = [[Erna Solberg]]
 | monarch4            = Harald V
 | term_start4         = 17 March 2000
 | term_end4           = 19 October 2001
 | predecessor4        = Kjell Magne Bondevik
 | successor4          = Kjell Magne Bondevik
 | office5             = [[Leader of the Opposition]]
 | term_start5         = 16 October 2013
 | term_end5           = 14 June 2014
 | primeminister5      = Erna Solberg
 | predecessor5        = Erna Solberg
 | successor5          = Jonas Gahr Støre
 | term_start6         = 19 October 2001
 | term_end6           = 17 October 2005
 | primeminister6      = Kjell Magne Bondevik
 | predecessor6        = 
 | successor6          = Erna Solberg
 | office7             = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Leader of the Labour Party]]
 | term_start7         = 10 November 2002
 | term_end7           = 14 June 2014
 | deputy7             = [[Hill-Marta Solberg]]<br />[[Helga Pedersen (Norway)|Helga Pedersen]]
 | predecessor7        = Thorbjørn Jagland
  | successor7          = Jonas Gahr Støre
 | office8             = [[Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norway)|Minister of Industry and Energy]]
 | primeminister8      = [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]]
 | term_start8         = 7 October 1993
 | term_end8           = 25 October 1996
 | predecessor8        = [[Finn Kristensen]] (as Minister of Industry)
 | successor8          = [[Grete Faremo]] (as Minister of Petroleum and Energy)
 | office9             = [[Storting|Member of the Norwegian Parliament]]
 | term_start9         = 1 October 1993
 | term_end9           = 30 September 2017
 | deputy9             = [[Anders Hornslien]]<br />[[Inger Lise Husøy]]<br />[[Ragnar Bøe Elgsaas]]<br />[[Truls Wickholm]]<br /> [[Håkon Haugli]]
 | constituency9       = [[Oslo]]
 | height              = 
 | birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1959|03|16|df=y}}
 | birth_place         = [[Oslo]], Norway
 | party               = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour]]
 | spouse              = {{marriage|[[Ingrid Schulerud]]|14 August 1987}}
 | children            = 2
 | parents             = [[Karin Stoltenberg|Karin Heiberg]]<br />[[Thorvald Stoltenberg]]
 | alma_mater          = [[University of Oslo]] ([[Cand.oecon.]])
 | signature           = Jens Stoltenberg signature.svg
 | website             = {{URL|nb-no.facebook.com/jensstoltenberg|Official Facebook}}<br />{{URL|twitter.com/jensstoltenberg|Official Twitter}}
 | allegiance          = {{flag|Norway}}
 | branch              = [[File:Coat of arms of the Norwegian Army.svg|20px]] [[Norwegian Army]]
 | honorific_suffix    = 
 | awards              = {{plainlist| * [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] }}
}}
'''Jens Stoltenberg''' ({{IPA|no|jɛns ˈstɔ̀ɫtn̩bærɡ|lang}}; born 16 March 1959) is a Norwegian politician who has served as the [[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]] since 2025, a position he previously held from 1996 to 1997. A member of the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]], he has also previously served as the [[prime minister of Norway]] from 2000 to 2001 and 2005 to 2013, and [[secretary general of NATO]] from 2014 to 2024.

Born in [[Oslo]] as the son of diplomat and politician [[Thorvald Stoltenberg]] and politician [[Karin Stoltenberg]] ({{née|Heiberg}}), Stoltenberg attended [[Oslo Waldorf School]] and [[Oslo Cathedral School]] before graduating with a degree in economics from the [[University of Oslo]] in 1987. During his studies, he worked as a journalist, and led Labour's [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|youth wing]] from 1985 to 1989.

Stoltenberg started his career in government as a [[State Secretary (Norway)|state secretary]] in the [[Ministry of Climate and Environment (Norway)|Ministry of the Environment]] in 1990 and was elected to the [[Storting]] in 1993. He was the [[Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norway)|Minister of Industry and Energy]] from 1993 to 1996 and [[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]] from 1996 to 1997. He was prime minister from 2000 to 2001, leader of the Labour Party from 2002 to 2014, and was prime minister for a second time from 2005 to 2013. The following year, he was named as the 13th secretary general of [[NATO]], and his term was subsequently extended four times by the NATO heads of state and government.

Stoltenberg has been described as a cautious politician, belonging to the right wing of social democracy. When he became prime minister in 2000, he was portrayed as the "Norwegian [[Tony Blair]]", and his policies were inspired by Blair's [[New Labour]] agenda. As the second longest-serving high-ranking official in NATO history, Stoltenberg worked to expand the alliance into Eastern Europe and to strengthen the alliance's military capabilities in response to the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], and his tenure coincided with the largest increase in NATO defense spending since the [[Cold War]].

On 4 February 2025, after the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]] withdrew from the [[Støre Cabinet]], Stoltenberg returned to [[Politics of Norway|Norwegian politics]] by being appointed as the new Minister of Finance, succeeding [[Trygve Slagsvold Vedum]].

== Early life ==
Stoltenberg was born 16 March 1959 in [[Oslo]], into the Norwegian [[Stoltenberg (Norwegian family)|Stoltenberg family]], the family name derived from [[Stoltenberg]] in Schleswig-Holstein where a German ancestor once lived. Jens's father, [[Thorvald Stoltenberg]] (1931–2018), was a Labour party politician and diplomat who was an ambassador, defence minister and foreign minister. His mother, [[Karin Stoltenberg]] (née Heiberg; 1931–2012), was a geneticist who was the [[state secretary]] in multiple governments during the 1980s.<ref name=a>{{cite news | last=Kolstad | first=Tom | title=Stoltenberg-familien i åpenhjertig interview | trans-title=Stoltenberg family is having candid interview | access-date=17 January 2013 | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Stoltenberg-familien-i-apenhjertig-intervju-6666837.html | newspaper=Aftenposten.no | date=17 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120324/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Stoltenberg-familien-i-apenhjertig-intervju-6666837.html | url-status=live | archive-date=22 October 2012 | language=no}}</ref> [[Marianne Heiberg]], married to former foreign minister [[Johan Jørgen Holst]], was his maternal aunt. Jens lived in [[SFR Yugoslavia]] from 1961 to 1964 while his father worked at the Norwegian embassy.<ref>{{cite web | author=V. N. | access-date=4 April 2014 | url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/aktuelno.289.html:379509-Stoltenberg-Beograd-ostao-u-srcu | title=Stoltenberg: Beograd ostao u srcu | trans-title=Stoltenberg: Belgrade remained in my heart | website=Novosti.rs | date=12 May 2012 | archive-date=22 October 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120324/http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/aktuelno.289.html%3A379509-Stoltenberg-Beograd-ostao-u-srcu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/m69OVv/jens-stoltenberg-om-barneskoletiden-jeg-kunne-ikke-lese-eller-skrive | last=Johnsen | first=Alf Bjarne | title=Jens Stoltenberg om barneskoletiden: - Jeg kunne ikke lese eller skrive | language=no | work=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=9 October 2018}}</ref>

Stoltenberg attended primary school at [[Oslo Waldorf School]], and upper secondary school at [[Oslo katedralskole|Oslo Cathedral School]]. He served his mandatory military service with the Army's Infantry Training Centre at [[Evjemoen]] in [[Aust-Agder]]. After leaving the army, Stoltenberg enrolled at the [[University of Oslo]], graduating in 1987 with the [[cand.oecon.]] degree in economics. The title of his thesis was ''Makroøkonomisk planlegging under usikkerhet. En empirisk analyse'' ("Macroeconomic planning under uncertainty. An [[empirical research|empirical analysis]]").<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ssb.no/histstat/in/in_8516.pdf | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | title=Makroøkonomisk planlegging under usikkerhet. En empirisk analyse | trans-title=Macroeconomic planning is uncertain; an empirical analysis | website=Ssb.no | access-date=17 January 2013 | language=no | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116071758/http://www.ssb.no/histstat/in/in_8516.pdf | archive-date=16 November 2011 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Stoltenberg's first steps into politics came in his early teens, when he was influenced by his sister [[Camilla Stoltenberg|Camilla]], who at the time was a member of the then [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] group [[Red Youth (Norway)|Red Youth]]. Opposition to the [[Vietnam War]] was his triggering motivation. Following heavy [[List of bombing campaigns of the Vietnam War|bombing raids]] against the North Vietnamese port city of [[Hai Phong]] at the end of the Vietnam War, he participated in [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|protest rallies]] targeting the [[Embassy of the United States in Oslo|United States Embassy in Oslo]]. On at least one occasion embassy windows were broken by stone-throwing protesters. Several of Stoltenberg's friends were arrested by the police after these events.<ref>{{cite book | author=Salvesen, Geir | title=Thorvalds verden | trans-title=Thorvald's world | year=1994 | publisher=[[Schibsted]] | location=Oslo, Norway | pages=398–399 | isbn=82-516-1545-3}}</ref>

== Journalistic career (1979–1990) ==
From 1979 to 1981, Stoltenberg was a journalist for ''[[Arbeiderbladet]]''. From 1985 to 1989, he was the leader of the [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|Workers' Youth League]]. From 1989 to 1990, he worked as an executive officer for [[Statistics Norway]], Norway's central institution for producing official statistics. He also worked part-time as an hourly paid instructor at the University of Oslo during this period. Between 1990 and 1992, he was leader of the [[Oslo]] chapter of the Labour Party.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Up to 1990, he had regular contacts with a Soviet diplomat. He ended this relationship after being informed by the [[Norwegian Police Security Service]] that his contact was a [[KGB]] agent, warning him against further contact. The code name given to Stoltenberg by the KGB was "Steklov".<ref>{{cite news | title=Kodenavn "Steklov" | trans-title=Code Name "Steklov" | access-date=3 November 2011 | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=5916647 | work=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=24 October 2000 | language=no | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018061834/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=5916647 | archive-date=18 October 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/amagasinet/article1187770.ece | newspaper=[[Aftenposten]] | language=no | access-date=3 November 2011 | author=Kjetil S. | date=19 October 2011 | title=Jøss, herr Statsminister | trans-title=Gee, Mr. Prime Minister | archive-date=21 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021093145/http://www.aftenposten.no/amagasinet/article1187770.ece | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Alf R. Jacobsen | newspaper=[[Dagbladet]] | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/07/06/kultur/debatt/kronikk/spionasje/arbeiderpartiet/17206163/ | title=Stortinget må granske | trans-title=Parliament must scrutinize | access-date=27 March 2014 | date=6 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234518/http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/07/06/kultur/debatt/kronikk/spionasje/arbeiderpartiet/17206163/ | url-status=live | archive-date=27 March 2014 | language=no}}</ref>

== First career in Norwegian politics (1990&ndash;2013) ==

=== Ministry for Environment and Minister for Trade and Energy (1990–1996) ===
{{Main|Brundtland's Third Cabinet}}
Stoltenberg was [[State Secretary (Norway)|State Secretary]] in the [[Norwegian Ministry of the Environment|Ministry of the Environment]] from 1990 to 1991. He was first elected to [[Parliament of Norway|Parliament]] in 1993 for the [[Oslo]] constituency, and is a member of the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]]. He was the [[Minister of Industry (Norway)|Minister of Industry]] from 1993 to 1996, until Brundtland resigned.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

=== Minister of Finance (1996–1997) ===
{{Main|Jagland's Cabinet}}
In 1996, [[Thorbjørn Jagland]] became prime minister, and Stoltenberg became [[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} On 29 September 1997, Jagland resigned because of [[36.9 ultimatum|an ultimatum]] he had issued stating that the cabinet would resign if the party received less than 36.9% of the popular vote.<ref>{{cite news | first=Herbjørn | last=Sørebø | author-link=Herbjørn Sørebø | title=Ikkje noko mediemord | url=http://www.dagogtid.no/arkiv/2000/07/herb.html | work=[[Dag og Tid]] | date=17 February 2000 | language=no | url-status=dead | access-date=31 March 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.dagogtid.no/arkiv/2000/07/herb.html | archive-date=30 June 2009}}</ref> Labour only received 35.0%; true to his promise, Jagland resigned as a consequence of its [[36.9 ultimatum]], and power was transferred to the [[Kjell Magne Bondevik's first term as Prime Minister of Norway|first cabinet of Kjell Magne Bondevik]].<ref name=resign>{{cite news | title=Meddelelse fra statsminister Thorbjørn Jagland om Regjeringens avskjedssøknad | first=Berit | last=Almendingen | date=29 September 1997 | work=Nettavisen | url=http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=1921 | language=no | access-date=1 February 2009 | archive-date=16 April 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416195609/http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=1921 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SEATTLETIMES">{{cite news | author=Mary Williams Walsh | title=Norway's Problem: Too Much Cash – Oil Is Flowing And Surplus Is Fat | url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971016/2566475/norways-problem-too-much-cash----oil-is-flowing-and-surplus-is-fat | work=[[The Seattle Times]] | access-date=2 February 2009 | date=16 October 1997 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907230554/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971016&slug=2566475 | archive-date=7 September 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> After Jagland's resignation and while in parliamentary opposition, Stoltenberg served on the standing committee on Oil and Energy Affairs in the [[Stortinget|Storting]]. He became the parliamentary leader and prime minister candidate for the Labour Party in February 2000.

=== First term as Prime Minister (2000–2001) ===
{{Main|Stoltenberg's First Cabinet}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin at the Millennium Summit 6-8 September 2000-28.jpg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg with Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] in New York City, 2000]]
[[File:President George W. Bush with Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store.jpg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg and [[Jonas Gahr Støre]] with US president [[George W. Bush]] during the NATO Summit in April 2008]]

In 2000, the [[Kjell Magne Bondevik's first term as Prime Minister of Norway|first cabinet of Bondevik]] resigned following an unsuccessful [[motion of confidence]].<ref name="CABINETII">{{cite news | title=Norway's new cabinet named | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/680950.stm | work=[[BBC News]] | date=17 March 2000 | access-date=1 February 2009 | url-status=live | archive-date=20 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420211441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/680950.stm}}</ref> Stoltenberg's first cabinet governed Norway from 17 March 2000 to 19 October 2001.<ref name="CABINETII" /> Stoltenberg was the [[deputy leader]] of the Labour Party while Jagland was the [[party leader]]. Instead Jagland was given the post as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Foreign Minister]]. Stoltenberg's first tenure as Prime Minister (2000–2001) was controversial within his own party, being responsible for reforms and modernisation of the [[welfare state]] that included partly privatising several key state-owned services and corporations.<ref name="auto1">{{cite journal |last1=Biermann |first1=Wolfgang |last2=Kallset |first2=Kristine |date=2010 |title='Everyone on Board!' The Nordic Model and the Red-Red-Green Coalition – A Transferable Model of Success? |url=https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/ipg/ipg-2010-4/biermann_kallset.pdf |journal=[[Friedrich Ebert Foundation|Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft]] |publisher=[[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] |issue=4 |pages=167–191 |quote=Stoltenberg ... was described by the Oslo media as the 'Norwegian Tony Blair.'}}</ref> In the [[2001 Norwegian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] of 10 September 2001, the party suffered one of its worst results ever, winning only 24% of the vote.

The 2001 election met with instability for the Labour Party. The Norwegian newspaper ''[[Dagbladet]]'' stated: "We are heading for a political earthquake when the votes are counted tonight, if we believe the opinion polls."<ref name="LABORREIIC" /> In an interview with [[The Associated Press]] Jagland stated "It is unstable and unpredictable."<ref name="LABORREIIC">{{cite news | access-date=2 February 2009 | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/10/norway.ballot/index.html | title=Norway set for close polls result | agency=CNN | date=10 September 2001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014112310/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/10/norway.ballot/index.html | archive-date=14 October 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> After the election in 2001, Stoltenberg and his cabinet were forced to resign, with the Labour Party suffering from its worst election campaign results since 1924.<ref name="LABORRE" /> With the 98% votes taken, the Labour Party only garnered 24%, falling from 35%.<ref name="LABORRE" /> Jagland, the Labour Party leader, commented on the results saying, "We will have to make a decision about whether to continue in government after we know the full results".<ref name="LABORRE">{{cite news | access-date=1 February 2009 | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1536377.stm | title=Norway poll sparks power struggle | work=BBC News | date=11 September 2001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420211443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1536377.stm | archive-date=20 April 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> After the election Stoltenberg said, "What is clear is that this was a very bad election."<ref name="LABORRE" />

Some analysts{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} have pointed out that one of the causes for their loss was that with only one year in power until the next election, more time was spent initiating or trying to start reforms than telling the people why they had to be done. Such reforms included selling down in state-owned companies, re-organisation of health care and public hospitals and changes in sick pay. The changes made from the 2001 election to the 2005 election were described by Norwegian newspaper ''VG'' as an "extreme makeover".<ref name="Extreme makeover">{{cite news | first=Eirik | last=Mosveen | title=Ekstrem forvandling | trans-title=Extreme makeover | work=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=11 August 2005 | language=no | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=106643 | access-date=12 March 2014 | url-status=live | archive-date=13 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001303/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=106643}}</ref>

==== Party leader election ====
The bad election result in 2001 was quickly followed by a leadership battle between Jagland and Stoltenberg. Both Jagland, as leader, and Stoltenberg, as deputy leader, said they were open to be challenged for their positions at the party's congress in November 2002. Stoltenberg refused to say whether he would challenge Jagland for the leadership position, which was seen by political commentators as a sign that he probably would seek the leadership position.<ref>{{cite news | author=Marie Melgård, Tommy H. Brakstad | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/11/08/nyheter/jens_stoltenberg/thorbjorn_jagland/thor_viksveen/18933263/ | title=Slik var striden mellom Jens og Jagland | trans-title=Such was the battle between Jamie and Jagland | newspaper=[[Dagbladet]] | language=no | date=8 November 2011 | access-date=28 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329215013/http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/11/08/nyheter/jens_stoltenberg/thorbjorn_jagland/thor_viksveen/18933263/ | archive-date=29 March 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> In the beginning of February 2002, Jagland, who had been briefly hospitalized in January, and had a subsequent sick leave,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nrk.no/norge/sykemeldt-til-3.feb-1.503884 | title=Sykemeldt til 3.feb | trans-title=Sick leave on 3 February | language=no | publisher=[[NRK]] | date=17 January 2002 | access-date=28 March 2014 | archive-date=30 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330004801/http://www.nrk.no/norge/sykemeldt-til-3.feb-1.503884 | url-status=dead}}</ref> said that he would not seek reelection as leader.<ref>{{cite news | language=no | date=28 March 2014 | access-date=28 March 2014 | newspaper=[[Aftenposten]] | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/article364621.ece#.UzVlsoVti8A | title=Gamle synder på lur i Ap | trans-title=Old sins lurking in AP | archive-date=29 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329220210/http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/article364621.ece#.UzVlsoVti8A | url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2002, Stoltenberg was unanimously elected new leader at the party's congress.<ref>{{cite news | language=no | url=http://www.nrk.no/norge/stoltenberg-aps-nye-leder-1.507713 | title=Stoltenberg Aps nye leder | trans-title=Stoltenberg's Labor's new leader | date=10 November 2002 | publisher=[[NRK]] | access-date=28 March 2014 | url-status=live | archive-date=30 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330004805/http://www.nrk.no/norge/stoltenberg-aps-nye-leder-1.507713}}</ref>

=== Second term as Prime Minister (2005–2013) ===
[[File:Jens stoltenberg1.jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg speaks on [[International Workers' Day]] at Youngstorget in Oslo on 1 May 2009.]]
{{Main|Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet}}
Stoltenberg's second cabinet governed Norway from 17 October 2005 to 16 October 2013. The [[2005 Norwegian parliamentary election|2005 parliamentary election]] saw a vast improvement for Labour, and the party gained a majority in parliament together with the other "Red-Green" parties, the [[Sosialistisk Venstreparti|Socialist Left Party]] and the [[Senterpartiet|Centre Party]]. This paved the way for a historic first in Norway, with Labour joining in a coalition government, the [[Red-Green Coalition (Norway)|Red-Green Coalition]], after a [[The Declaration of Soria Moria|coalition deal]] with Stoltenberg was struck. Since the government's formation, key political issues such as [[Norwegian Armed Forces|Norwegian military]] participation in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]], petroleum activities in the [[Barents Sea]], [[LGBT]] rights, immigration and the quality of standard education were greatly debated by the public. Following [[2009 Norwegian parliamentary election|Stoltenberg's re-election in 2009]], he worked on the Norwegian response to the [[Late-2000s recession|ongoing global recession]] and championed for [[environmentalism|environmentalist policies]] through private and corporate taxation.<ref>{{cite news | access-date=15 September 2009 | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8253849.stm | title=Norway's government is re-elected | work=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=14 September 2009 | language=no | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914100558/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8253849.stm | archive-date=14 September 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Medvedev in Norway (img12).jpeg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg with Russian president [[Dimitry Medvedev]], 27 April 2010]]
A [[Norway–Russia border|marine border dispute with Russia]] in the Barents Sea since 1978 was settled when Stoltenberg and [[President of Russia]] [[Dimitry Medvedev]] signed an agreement on 27 April 2010 in Oslo.<ref>{{cite web | date=27 April 2010 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/norway-russia-barents-idUSLDE63Q14D20100427?type=marketsNews | title=UPDATE 3-Russia and Norway strike Arctic sea border deal | first1=Denis | last1=Dyomkin | first2=Gwladys | last2=Fouche | work=Reuters | access-date=27 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728040728/https://www.reuters.com/article/2010/04/27/norway-russia-barents-idUSLDE63Q14D20100427?type=marketsNews | archive-date=28 July 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/world/europe/28norway.html | title=Russia and Norway Reach Accord on Barents Sea | first=Walter | last=Gibbs | work=[[New York Times]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430074409/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/world/europe/28norway.html | archive-date=30 April 2010 | url-status=live | date=28 April 2010 | access-date=27 April 2010}}</ref> The agreement is a compromise, which divides a disputed area of around {{cvt|175,000|km2}} into two approximately equally sized parts.<ref name=dn-28april2010>{{cite news | title=Gjennombrudd i Barentshavet | url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/campaigns/the-high-north/naeringsutvikling_verdiskapning/neighbourly_relations.html?regj_oss=1&id=732075 | pages=6–13 | language=no | trans-title=Breakthrough in Barents Sea | date=28 April 2010 | work=Dagens Næringsliv | access-date=9 April 2014 | archive-date=8 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408154744/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/campaigns/the-high-north/naeringsutvikling_verdiskapning/neighbourly_relations.html?regj_oss=1&id=732075 | url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the agreement still needs ratification by the [[State Duma]] and the [[Parliament of Norway]] in order to be implemented. Whereas Norway had previously insisted on a border in accordance with the [[equidistance principle]], which is recognized in international law, specifically the [[United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea]] Article 15 and the [[Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone]] Article 6, Russia invoked a [[Stalin]]-era decree of the [[Soviet Union]] from 1926, which was not recognised by any other country. The new agreement replaced a controversial<ref>{{cite book | author-link=Kåre Willoch | last=Willoch | first=Kåre | year=2002 | title=Myter og virkelighet: om begivenheter frem til våre dager med utgangspunkt i perioden 1965–1981 | trans-title=Myths and reality: Events leading to the present day, starting from the period 1965–1981 | language=no | publication-place=Oslo | publisher=Cappelen | page=}}{{page needed|date=June 2015}}</ref> temporary agreement negotiated by [[Jens Evensen]] and [[Arne Treholt]], who was later revealed to be a Soviet spy and who aided the Soviet Union in the negotiations.<ref>{{cite book | last=Vale | first=Stein | year=2009 | title=Teppefall i Treholtsaken | language=no | publication-place=Oslo | publisher=Cappelen Damm | isbn=978-82-02-29988-0 | pages=34–36, 135}}</ref> Most of the disputed area was within what would normally be considered Norwegian according to the relevant international treaties.

As Prime Minister, Stoltenberg worked for a constructive [[Norway–Russia relations|relationship with Russia]] through dialogue and cooperation underpinned by NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities. During his tenure, he also emphasised the need to focus on security challenges close to Allied territory.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/campaigns/the-high-north/naeringsutvikling_verdiskapning/neighbourly_relations.html?regj_oss=1&id=732075 | editor-last1=Imerslund | editor-first1=Ragnhild | editor-last2=Jensen | editor-first2=Johan T. | website=[[Government.no]] | title=Good neighbourly relations and international cooperation | language=en | access-date=4 April 2014 | date=11 September 2013 | publication-place=Oslo | publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406210948/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/campaigns/the-high-north/naeringsutvikling_verdiskapning/neighbourly_relations.html?regj_oss=1&id=732075 | archive-date=6 April 2014 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks ====
{{Main|2011 Norway attacks}}
[[File:Jens Stoltenberg 2012.jpg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg speaks at a service commemorating the one year anniversary of the 2011 attacks.|alt=Jens Stoltenberg speaking at a podium.]]

On 22 July 2011, a far-right extremist committed [[2011 Norway attacks|two attacks]]: a bomb went off in [[Oslo]] outside the government building which houses the prime minister's office, killing eight people while wounding others.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Sollid | first1=Stephen JM | last2=Rimstad | first2=Rune | last3=Rehn | first3=Marius | last4=Nakstad | first4=Anders R | last5=Tomlinson | first5=Ann-Elin | last6=Strand | first6=Terje | last7=Heimdal | first7=Hans | last8=Nilsen | first8=Jan | last9=Sandberg | first9=Mårten | date=2012 | title=Oslo government district bombing and Utøya island shooting July 22, 2011: The immediate prehospital emergency medical service response | url= | journal=Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine | language=En | volume=20 | issue=1 | pages=3 | doi=10.1186/1757-7241-20-3 | issn=1757-7241 | pmc=3266631 | pmid=22280935 | doi-access=free}}</ref> About an hour later, he shot and killed 69 people at [[Utøya]], an island forty-five minutes away where the ruling Labour Party was holding its annual youth camp. The PM was due for a visit at the youth camp the next day, and was in his residence preparing his speech at the time of the Oslo explosion.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/stoltenberg-skrev-tale-til-utoeya-da-bomben-smalt/20082498 | title=Stoltenberg skrev tale til Utøya da bomben smalt | trans-title=Stoltenberg wrote the speech to Utøya when the bomb hit | agency=NTB | date=25 July 2011 | access-date=25 July 2011 | publisher=[[E24 Næringsliv|E24]] | language=no | archive-date=9 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809041912/http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/stoltenberg-skrev-tale-til-utoeya-da-bomben-smalt/20082498 | url-status=live}}</ref>

On Sunday 24 July, Stoltenberg spoke at the church service in the [[Oslo Cathedral]]. He named two of the victims at Utøya, Monica Bøsei, who was the camp's leader, and Tore Eikeland, who was the leader of the youth chapter in Hordaland. He again vowed to work for more democracy, openness, and humanity, but without naïveté.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/terrorangrepet-22-juli-politikk-og-samfunn/stoltenberg-paa-minnestund-vi-har-maktet-aa-staa-oppreist-i-en-kritisk-tid/a/10080701/ | title=Stoltenberg på minnestund: – Vi har maktet å stå oppreist i en kritisk tid | trans-title=Stoltenberg at memorial: – We have managed to stay upright in a critical time | last=Kleivan | first=Nikolai | date=24 July 2011 | newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] | language=no | access-date=25 July 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328222457/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/terrorangrepet-22-juli-politikk-og-samfunn/stoltenberg-paa-minnestund-vi-har-maktet-aa-staa-oppreist-i-en-kritisk-tid/a/10080701/ | archive-date=28 March 2014}}</ref>
He also said that "No one has said it better than the AUF girl who was interviewed by CNN: ''If one man can show so much hate, think how much love we could show, standing together.''"<ref>{{cite news | date=24 July 2011 | access-date=24 July 2011 | work=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2011/jul/24/norway-attacks-live-updates | title=orway attacks rolling coverage: Sunday 24 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828174305/http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2011/jul/24/norway-attacks-live-updates | archive-date=28 August 2013 | url-status=live | quote=No one has said it better than the AUF girl who was interviewed by CNN: ''If one man can show so much hate, think how much love we could show, standing together.''}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/smk/Whats-new/Speeches-and-articles/statsministeren/statsminister_jens_stoltenberg/2011/address-by-prime-minister-in-oslo-cathed.html | title=Address by Prime Minister in Oslo Cathedral | website=Government.no | date=24 July 2011 | access-date=25 July 2011 | quote=No one has said it better than the Labour Youth League girl who was interviewed by CNN: ''If one man can create that much hate, you can only imagine how much love we as a togetherness can create.'' | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211093533/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/smk/Whats-new/Speeches-and-articles/statsministeren/statsminister_jens_stoltenberg/2011/address-by-prime-minister-in-oslo-cathed.html | archive-date=11 February 2012}}</ref>
The [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|AUF]] girl mentioned is [[Stine Renate Håheim]] interviewed by CNN's [[Richard Quest]] on 23 July 2011.<ref>{{cite news | agency=[[CNN]] | url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/07/23/bpr.haheim.norwegian.lawmaker.cnn | title=Norway Island survivor: CNN's Richard Quest talks to Stine Renate Haheim | access-date=24 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121101600/http://edition.cnn.com/video/?%2Fvideo%2Fworld%2F2011%2F07%2F23%2Fbpr.haheim.norwegian.lawmaker.cnn | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 January 2012 | quote=If one man can create that much hate, you can only imagine how much love we as a togetherness can create.}}</ref> Håheim again quoted her friend Helle Gannestad, who had tweeted this from home, watching events unfold on TV.<ref>{{cite web | website=Side2.no | access-date=4 April 2014 | url=http://www.side2.no/3201858.html | title=Helle inspirerte verdensstjernen | trans-title=Helle inspired world star | archive-date=29 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329013517/http://www.side2.no/3201858.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

On 24 August 2012, 33-year-old Norwegian [[Anders Behring Breivik]] was found [[Trial of Anders Behring Breivik|guilty]] by the [[Oslo District Court]] of having perpetrated by himself both [[terrorist attacks]], the bombing of the prime minister's office and the shooting spree on [[Utøya]] island, and was convicted to ''[[Life imprisonment in Norway|containment]]'', a special form of [[prison sentence]] that can be extended indefinitely—with a time frame of 21 years and a minimum time of 10 years, which, in all, is the maximum penalty in Norway.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19365616 | title=Anders Behring Breivik: Norway court finds him sane | work=[[BBC News]] | date=24 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824083419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19365616 | archive-date=24 August 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 September 2012, Norwegian daily ''[[Klassekampen]]'' wrote that the [[Gjørv Report]] on the terrorist attack "is the hardest verdict against a Norwegian cabinet since the Fact-Finding Commission of 1945 ensured that [[Johan Nygaardsvold]]'s political career was abruptly halted."<ref>[http://klassekampen.no/60619/article/item/null/overivrig Overivrig] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926044737/http://klassekampen.no/60619/article/item/null/overivrig |date=26 September 2012}} "22. juli-kommisjonens rapport er den mest knusende dom en norsk regjering har fått siden Undersøkelseskommisjonen i 1945 sørget for at Johan Nygaardsvolds politiske karriere fikk en brå slutt."</ref> Stoltenberg said after the report was published that he had "ultimate responsibility for the preparedness in our country, a responsibility I take seriously," but said he would not resign.<ref>{{cite news | agency=CNN | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/13/world/europe/norway-massacre-report/ | title=Norway massacre could have been avoided, report finds | date=13 August 2012 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408012257/http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/13/world/europe/norway-massacre-report/ | archive-date=8 April 2014}}</ref>

==== 2013 election and defeat ====
{{Main|2013 Norwegian parliamentary election}}
Stoltenberg was the prime minister candidate for the Red-Green Coalition in the [[2013 Norwegian parliamentary election|2013 elections]], seeking re-election for a third term.

On 9 September 2013, the coalition failed to win a majority, with 72 of the required 85 mandates, despite the Labour Party remaining the largest party in Norway with 31%. After [[Erna Solberg]] formed [[Solberg's Cabinet|her cabinet]], Stoltenberg returned to the Parliament as leader of the opposition, and a member of the [[Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence]]. In December 2013, he was appointed by the [[United Nations]] as a [[Special Envoy on Climate Change]], alongside the former Ghanaian president [[John Kufuor]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Rolleiv | last=Solholm | url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/29362-stoltenberg-new-un-special-envoy | agency=[[NRK]] | access-date=29 December 2013 | newspaper=The Norway Post | date=24 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225142525/http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/29362-stoltenberg-new-un-special-envoy | archive-date=25 December 2013 | url-status=live | title=Stoltenberg new UN special envoy}}</ref>

=== Policies as Prime Minister ===
Stoltenberg has been described as a cautious politician, belonging to the right wing of [[social democracy]].<ref name=Østby>{{cite web | first=Per | last=Østby | url=http://www.transportarbeider.no/kunder/ntf/cms.nsf/%28$All%29/DF06C0C2FD22A5A1C12578A00037150B?OpenDocument | title=Refser de rødgrønne | trans-title=Rebuke the red-greens | publication-place=Oslo | publisher=Norwegian Transport Workers' Union | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917124653/http://www.transportarbeider.no/kunder/ntf/cms.nsf/%28$All%29/DF06C0C2FD22A5A1C12578A00037150B?OpenDocument | archive-date=17 September 2016 | language=no | date=15 September 2010 | access-date=31 March 2014}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=October 2024|reason=The provided citation claiming Stoltenberg is very poor. It is an article citing a critical politician from the Socialist Left party. Non-normative evidence is needed.}}

When he became prime minister in 2000, he was portrayed as the "Norwegian [[Tony Blair]]", and his policies were inspired by Blair's [[New Labour]] agenda. Stoltenberg said he was both inspired by and wanted to learn from Blair's policies.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |date=14 October 2000 |title=Stoltenberg vil lære av Blair |trans-title=Stoltenberg wants to learn from Blair |url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/innenriks/i/Kj9XE/stoltenberg-vil-laere-av-blair |work=Aftenbladet}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{cite news |date=25 February 2003 |title=Stoltenberg inspirert av Blair |trans-title=Stoltenberg inspired by Blair |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/Rxx3GW/stoltenberg-inspirert-av-blair |work=[[Verdens Gang]]}}</ref> After election defeat in 2001, he reoriented towards a more traditional line of close cooperation with trade unions.<ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-30 |title=Sier nei til privatisering |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/G34k6/sier-nei-til-privatisering |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=www.aftenposten.no |language=nb}}</ref>

In security policy, Stoltenberg favours increased military spending and dialogue.<ref>{{cite web | date=28 March 2014 | access-date=9 April 2014 | language=no | url=http://www.dn.no/nyheter/2014/03/28/stoltenberg-vil-vre-bde-hauk-og-due | title=Stoltenberg vil være både hauk og due | trans-title=Stoltenberg Will be Both Hawk and Dove | publisher=[[Dagens Næringsliv|DN.no]]; [[Norwegian Telegram Agency|NTB]] | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407052805/http://www.dn.no/nyheter/2014/03/28/stoltenberg-vil-vre-bde-hauk-og-due | archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

==== Defense and foreign politics ====
[[File:JensandNato.jpg|thumb|[[Secretary General of NATO]] [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]] and Stoltenberg, while visiting Oslo talk with members of [[Telemark Battalion]]]]
[[File:Paris Summit for the Support to the Libyan People 04.jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg at the Paris Summit of 19 March 2011 (back row, second from right), which marked the start of a [[2011 military intervention in Libya|military intervention in Libya]]]]

While Stoltenberg was prime minister, Norway's defence spending increased steadily, with the result that Norway today is one of the NATO allies with the highest per capita defence expenditure.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/29677-stoltenberg-appointed-new-nato-chief | title=Stoltenberg appointed new NATO Chief | newspaper=The Norway Post | access-date=11 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411231628/http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/29677-stoltenberg-appointed-new-nato-chief | archive-date=11 April 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> Stoltenberg has also been instrumental in modernising the Norwegian armed forces, and in contributing forces to various NATO operations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.tnp.no/norway/politics/4421-nato-appoints-jens-stoltenberg-as-nato-sg-as-of-october-1st-2014-norway | title=NATO Appoints Jens Stoltenberg as NATO SG as of October 1st 2014 | work=The Nordic Page | access-date=11 April 2014 | place=[[Oslo]] | date=23 March 2014 | language=no | archive-date=11 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411233130/http://www.tnp.no/norway/politics/4421-nato-appoints-jens-stoltenberg-as-nato-sg-as-of-october-1st-2014-norway | url-status=live}}</ref>

Stoltenberg is a supporter of enhanced trans-Atlantic cooperation ties. He has also always been a supporter of Norwegian membership in the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite news | author=Henrik Width | language=no | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Stoltenberg-harselerte-med-EOS-avtalen-6301963.html | title=Stoltenberg harselerte med EØS-avtalen | trans-title=Stoltenberg mocked the EEA Agreement | newspaper=Aftenposten | date=19 October 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330004619/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Stoltenberg-harselerte-med-EOS-avtalen-6301963.html | archive-date=30 March 2014}}</ref>

Stoltenberg has criticized Israel over [[alleged]] violations of international law in the Palestinian Territories as well as in international waters, such as the [[2010 Gaza flotilla raid]].<ref name=gaza>{{cite news | url=http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/utenriks/stoltenberg-uakseptabelt-av-israel-3218802.html | author=Lars Barth-Heyerdahl | title=Stoltenberg: – Uakseptabelt av Israel: Den norske regjeringen fordømmer bordingen av skip med nødhjelp på vei til Gaza | trans-title=Stoltenberg: – Unacceptable of Israel: The Norwegian government condemns board of the ship with the aid headed to Gaza | publisher=TV2 | language=no | date=31 May 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407060307/http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/utenriks/stoltenberg-uakseptabelt-av-israel-3218802.html | archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> In 2006, Stoltenberg stated that "Norway condemns Israel's actions against Palestinians. Such collective punishment is totally unacceptable."<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Aftenbladet | language=no | date=14 July 2006 | url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/nyheter/utenriks/article312125.ece | title=Stoltenberg fordømmer Israel | trans-title=Stoltenberg condemns Israel | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407070254/http://www.aftenbladet.no/nyheter/utenriks/article312125.ece}}</ref> Stoltenberg praised doctors [[Mads Gilbert]] and [[Erik Fosse]] for their humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip during the [[Gaza War (2008–2009)|Gaza War]], stating that "all of Norway" was behind them.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/midtoesten/stoltenberg-hyller-norske-gaza-leger/a/550179/ | title=Stoltenberg hyller norske Gaza-leger | trans-title=Stoltenberg shelves Norwegian Gaza doctors | newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=1 November 2009 | archive-date=7 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407061215/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/midtoesten/stoltenberg-hyller-norske-gaza-leger/a/550179/ | url-status=live | language=no}}</ref>

==== Financial crisis ====
Stoltenberg took an international role during the financial crisis by promoting international financial cooperation. This was among other arenas done through the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) and a meeting in Chile 27–29 March 2009 where social democratic leaders from around the world met at a Progressive Governance Conference, just prior to the first G20 summit on the financial crisis. President [[Bill Clinton]] was among the delegates and panel that would chart a way out of the financial crisis, which included the host [[Michelle Bachelet]], Britain's prime minister [[Gordon Brown]], Brazil's President [[Lula da Silva]] and Stoltenberg. A special emergency meeting of the European Social Democratic Forum (PES) was gathered in Oslo in May 2011, on an initiative from Stoltenberg and the think tank Policy Network.

Both nationally and internationally, Stoltenberg emphasised the enormous costs the financial crisis had in the form of a high unemployment rate, and appealed for better international coordination, the balance between austerity and economic growth stimulus, active labor market measures for young people, and investments for increased innovation.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} Norway came out of the financial crisis with the lowest unemployment rate in Europe.<ref name=Db>{{cite news | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/01/nyheter/innenriks/arbeidsledighet/jens_stoltenberg/1_mai/11529483/ | language=no | title=Norge har lavest arbeids-ledighet i Europa | trans-title=Norway has the lowest unemployment in Europe | work=Dagbladet | date=1 May 2010 | archive-date=4 May 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504043235/http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/01/nyheter/innenriks/arbeidsledighet/jens_stoltenberg/1_mai/11529483/}}</ref>

==== Environment and climate change ====
Partnering with tropical countries to preserve more of their rainforest to bind carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) in order to reduce [[greenhouse gas emissions]] was a policy of the Stoltenberg government. In 2007, the government received support from the opposition to a long-term agreement to finance forest conservation with 3 billion NOK annually.<ref name=NRK>{{cite news | publisher=NRK | language=no | url=http://www.nrk.no/norge/gir-tre-milliarder-til-regnskogen-1.4252368 | title=Gir tre milliarder til regnskogen | date=12 September 2012 | archive-date=13 March 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001201/http://www.nrk.no/norge/gir-tre-milliarder-til-regnskogen-1.4252368}}</ref>

Stoltenberg through his governing advocated that international agreements with global taxes or quotas are the most effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the [[UN Climate Change Conference 2009]], a separate proposal on the preservation of rainforests with funding from rich countries, advanced by Stoltenberg and Brazilian [[President of Brazil|Pres]]. [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] in 2009 obtained support from among others U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] during COP15 in Copenhagen.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

The summit in Copenhagen ended without a binding agreement, but before the subsequent COP16 in [[Cancún]], Stoltenberg succeeded then-British Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] in the leadership of the committee dealing with the financing of climate actions in developing countries, also consisting of Ethiopian Prime Minister [[Meles Zenawi]]. Under a separate forest and climate conference in Oslo in May 2010, a proposal was presented to a number of countries, with final delivery of the report in autumn 2010.

In January 2014 Jens Stoltenberg became [[United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change]]. During the meeting there he met with Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] as well as [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|UN Framework Convention]] director [[Christiana Figueres]] and both [[Achim Steiner]] and [[Helen Clark]] of the [[United Nations Development Programme]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.norway-un.org/News/News-2013/Jens-Stoltenberg-becomes-UN-special-envoy-on-Climate-Change/#.U0lN5iwo5lY | title=Jens Stoltenberg becomes UN special envoy on Climate Change | access-date=12 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412144608/http://www.norway-un.org/News/News-2013/Jens-Stoltenberg-becomes-UN-special-envoy-on-Climate-Change/#.U0lN5iwo5lY | archive-date=12 April 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Vaccines ====
Stoltenberg has been an advocate for having all the world's children vaccinated against infectious diseases. The first speech he gave in his second term as prime minister was during Norway's "Pharmaceutics days" in 2005 under the title "Vaccination against poverty". Stoltenberg was a board director of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization ([[GAVI]]) from 2002 to 2005<ref>{{Cite web | author=<!--Not stated--> | title=What you should know about NATO chief Jens Stotlenberg? | url=https://www.india.com/education/what-you-should-know-about-nato-chief-jens-stotlenberg-1590348/ | access-date=2022-06-25 | website=India.com | date=11 April 2014 | language=en}}</ref> and was awarded the Children's Health Award in 2005.

An international initiative, with the UK, the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|Gates Foundation]] and Norway in the lead, that GAVI received more than $3.7 billion until 2015 for their work against child mortality.<ref>{{cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | date=16 May 2005 | url=http://www.tnp.no/norway/health/2276-bill-gates-meets-jens-stoltenberg | title=Bill Gates meets Jens Stoltenberg | newspaper=The Nordic Page | publication-place=Oslo | access-date=12 April 2014 | archive-date=13 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145857/http://www.tnp.no/norway/health/2276-bill-gates-meets-jens-stoltenberg | url-status=dead | language=en}}</ref> Stoltenberg was one of the key driving forces behind the initiative, and has stressed that this is an important contribution to save 9 million children from dying of the most common childhood illnesses.

In his New Year speech on 1 January 2013, Stoltenberg spoke about vaccination of the world's children as a personal matter of the heart. "Small jabs are giving millions of children the gift of life. Simple medicines can save their mothers. The fact that all these mothers' and children's lives can be saved is—as I see it—a miracle of our time," Stoltenberg said in his speech.<ref>{{cite web | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | date=1 January 2013 | url=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/historical-archive/Stoltenbergs-2nd-Government/Office-of-the-Prime-Minister/taler-og-artikler/2013/prime-minister-jens-stoltenbergs-new-yea/id710868/ | title=Prime Minister's New Year Address 2013 | language=en | website=[[Government.no]] | publisher=Office of the Prime Minister}} Official translation of {{cite web | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | date=1 January 2013 | title=Statsministerens nyttårstale 2013 | language=no | website=[[Government.no]] | publisher=Office of the Prime Minister | url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumentarkiv/stoltenberg-ii/smk/taler-og-artikler/2013/statsministerens-nyttarstale-2013/id710868/}}</ref>

== United Nations Special Envoy (2013–2014) ==
In 2011, Stoltenberg received the [[United Nations Foundation]]'s Champion of Global Change Award, chosen for his extraordinary effort toward meeting the [[Millennium Development Goals]] and bringing fresh ideas to global problems.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbkPIsdwv_Q | title=Jens Stoltenberg: 2011 UN Foundation Global Leadership Awards Dinner | date=10 November 2011 | publisher=United Nations Foundation | publication-place=New York City | via=YouTube | access-date=18 May 2017 | archive-date=3 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303061415/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbkPIsdwv_Q | url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, his term as Secretary General of [[NATO]] was extended for another two years.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-extend-stoltenbergs-term-as-secretary-general/ | title=NATO allies extend Stoltenberg's term as secretary-general | first=David M. | last=Herszenhorn | date=28 March 2019 | website=Politico | access-date=1 April 2019 | archive-date=30 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330094542/https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-allies-extend-stoltenbergs-term-as-secretary-general/ | url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier the same year, Stoltenberg had allocated 150 million [[Norwegian kroner]] of the foreign aid budget to the same foundation, which led to criticism.<ref>{{cite news | author=Gedde-Dahl, Siri | title=Stoltenberg delte ut penger – fikk pris i retur | trans-title=Stoltenberg handed out money – got prize in return | work=[[Aftenposten]] | language=no | date=25 November 2011 | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Stoltenberg-delte-ut-penger-A--fikk-pris-i-retur-6706022.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125232422/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Stoltenberg-delte-ut-penger-A--fikk-pris-i-retur-6706022.html | url-status=live | archive-date=25 November 2015 | access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>

In 2013, Stoltenberg served as a UN special envoy on [[climate change]] ([[global warming]]), and he chaired the UN High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence and the High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.

== NATO Secretary General (2014–2024) ==
{{See also|Russia–NATO relations|Ukraine–NATO relations}}

=== 2014 ===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Shakes Hands With NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg Before Meeting at Alliance Headquarters in Belgium (15742254968).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg with US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in Brussels, December 2014]]
On 28 March 2014, [[NATO]]'s [[North Atlantic Council]] appointed Stoltenberg as designated successor of [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]] as the 13th [[Secretary General of NATO]] and Chairman of the council, effective from 1 October 2014.<ref name=natojens>{{cite press release | date=28 March 2014 | url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_108390.htm | title=Appointment of Secretary General designate | language=en | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=Author | author=NATO | access-date=28 March 2014}}</ref> The appointment had been widely expected in the media for some time, and commentators pointed out that the alliance's policies toward Russia will be the most important issue faced by Stoltenberg.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/world/europe/nato-picks-former-norwegian-premier-as-its-next-leader.html?_r=1 | author=James Kanter | title=Norwegian to Lead NATO as It Is Poised for Bigger Role | date=28 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408210305/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/world/europe/nato-picks-former-norwegian-premier-as-its-next-leader.html?_r=1 | archive-date=8 April 2014 | url-status=live | url-access=registration}}</ref> [[Angela Merkel]], the chancellor of Germany, took the initiative to appoint Stoltenberg as secretary-general, securing the support first of the United States, then of the United Kingdom, and then of all other member states.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/Jens-Stoltenberg-skal-ha-lovet-a-lare-seg-fransk-7520428.html | title=Stoltenberg skal lære seg fransk | trans-title=Stoltenberg will learn French | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329220350/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/Jens-Stoltenberg-skal-ha-lovet-a-lare-seg-fransk-7520428.html | archive-date=29 March 2014 | url-status=live | language=no | newspaper=Aftenposten}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date=29 March 2014 | url=http://www.nrk.no/norge/merkel-ringte-stoltenberg-i-host-1.11637880 | title=Stoltenberg letter på sløret: Merkel ringte meg om NATO-jobben i oktober | trans-title=Stoltenberg got a hint: Merkel called me about NATO job in October | publisher=NRK | access-date=31 March 2014 | archive-date=30 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330051613/http://www.nrk.no/norge/merkel-ringte-stoltenberg-i-host-1.11637880 | language=no | url-status=live}}</ref> Norway was a founding member of NATO in 1949, and Stoltenberg is the first Norwegian to serve as secretary-general, although former [[Conservative Party (Norway)|Conservative Party]] Prime Minister [[Kåre Willoch]] was considered a strong candidate in 1988.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Toppene-avgjor-Stoltenbergs-Nato-fremtid-7508976.html | title=Toppene avgjør Stoltenbergs Nato-fremtid | author1=Lars Molteberg Glomnes | author2=Ole Mathismoen | newspaper=Aftenposten | author3=Robert Gjerde | date=19 March 2014 | archive-date=19 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319232145/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/Toppene-avgjor-Stoltenbergs-Nato-fremtid-7508976.html | url-status=live | language=no}}</ref>

=== 2015 ===
In June 2015, Stoltenberg said, "I believe we don't see any immediate threat against any NATO country from the east. Our goal is still cooperation with Russia… That serves NATO and it serves Russia."<ref>{{cite news | title=Stoltenberg: Russia Doesn't Pose Immediate Threat to NATO States | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/06/04/stoltenberg-russia-doesnt-pose-immediate-threat-to-nato-states-a47125 | work=The Moscow Times | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153143/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/06/04/stoltenberg-russia-doesnt-pose-immediate-threat-to-nato-states-a47125 | url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2015, Czech Deputy Prime Minister [[Andrej Babiš]] criticized NATO's lack of response to the [[European migrant crisis]]. After talks with Stoltenberg on migrant crisis issue Babiš said: "NATO is not interested in refugees, though [[Turkey in NATO|Turkey, a NATO]] member, is their entrance gate to Europe and smugglers operate on Turkish territory".<ref name="CN">"[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/czech-minister-babis-criticises-nato-s-stance-on-refugees/1256815 Czech minister Babis criticises NATO's stance on refugees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925091006/http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/czech-minister-babis-criticises-nato-s-stance-on-refugees/1256815 |date=25 September 2015 }}". CeskeNoviny.cz. 10 September 2015.</ref>

=== 2016 ===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Listens to NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg Speak Before Members Signed an Accession Protocol to Continue Montenegro's Admission to the Alliance in Brussels (26839433820).jpg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg and [[Montenegro]]'s Prime Minister [[Milo Djukanovic]] attend a NATO foreign ministers meeting on 19 May 2016.]]
Stoltenberg strongly condemned the [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt]] and expressed full support for [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]'s government.<ref>"[https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-nato-idUSL1N1A61L6 NATO chief says Turkey's military still strong despite detentions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153141/https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-nato-idUSL1N1A61L6 |date=3 August 2019 }}". Reuters. 20 July 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_134408.htm | title=NATO Spokesperson's statement on Turkey | work=NATO | access-date=25 August 2016 | archive-date=13 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813231549/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_134408.htm | url-status=live}}</ref> He did not condemn the [[2016–present purges in Turkey]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO declines to condemn arrests of Turkish legislators, journalists | url=https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/nato-declines-condemn-arrests-turkish-legislators-161121-99-255828 | work=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]] | date=21 November 2016 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153140/https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/nato-declines-condemn-arrests-turkish-legislators-161121-99-255828 | url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2016, Stoltenberg admitted that some "Turkish officers working in NATO command structures... have requested asylum in the countries where they are working."<ref>{{cite news | title=More academics, mayors detained as Turkish purges enter fifth month | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security/more-academics-mayors-detained-as-turkish-purges-enter-fifth-month-idUSKBN13D0IU | work=Reuters | date=18 November 2016 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153138/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security/more-academics-mayors-detained-as-turkish-purges-enter-fifth-month-idUSKBN13D0IU | url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2016, Stoltenberg said it was essential to step up cooperation with Israel, since Israel had been an active alliance partner for 20 years.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO to strengthen cooperation with Israel: Jens Stoltenberg | url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/nato-to-strengthen-cooperation-with-israel-jens-stoltenberg-116062200038_1.html | work=Business Standard | date=22 June 2016 | access-date=7 September 2020 | archive-date=20 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820142514/http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/nato-to-strengthen-cooperation-with-israel-jens-stoltenberg-116062200038_1.html | url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018, Stoltenberg told ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' that NATO would not help Israel in the case of an attack by the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief: Alliance won't defend Israel in war with Iran | url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/nato-chief-said-alliance-wont-defend-israel-in-war-with-iran-558987 | work=The Jerusalem Post | date=2 June 2018 | access-date=7 September 2020 | archive-date=1 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001052202/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/nato-chief-said-alliance-wont-defend-israel-in-war-with-iran-558987 | url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Stoltenberg stated that the NATO strongly supported "the UN-led political process to find a solution" to the [[Cyprus dispute|dispute]] over the northern part of [[Cyprus]], which has been under illegal occupation since the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion of 1974]].<ref>{{cite interview | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | interviewer-first=Denis | interviewer-last=Dubrovin | title=NATO responds to "Russia's aggression against Ukraine" | url=https://tass.com/world/883050 | work=[[TASS]] | date=17 June 2016 | publication-place=Moscow | publisher=Government of Russia | access-date=3 October 2019 | archive-date=3 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003115056/https://tass.com/world/883050 | url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[First presidency of Donald Trump|presidency of Donald Trump]] was a major challenge to NATO during Stoltenberg's time as secretary general. Trump threatened to withdraw from NATO and undermine the alliance. A 2021 study argued that Stoltenberg played a key role in preventing Trump from undermining NATO. Stoltenberg helped to change Trump's stance on burden-sharing, as well as maintain a robust deterrence policy toward Russia.<ref>{{Cite journal | last=Schuette | first=Leonard August | date=2021 | title=Why NATO survived Trump: the neglected role of Secretary-General Stoltenberg | journal=International Affairs | volume=97 | issue=6 | pages=1863–1881 | doi=10.1093/ia/iiab167 | issn=0020-5850 | doi-access=free| url=https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/e9433443-a44c-464b-a9f5-372cde0c5e60 }}</ref>

=== 2017 ===
[[File:Press trip to visit the allied forces stationed in Tapa. Meetings with NATO units and key figures from the Estonian defence and allied forces (36927444341).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg visits NATO units in Tapa, Estonia in 2017.]]In August 2017 the last NATO Certification Exercise of the four multinational battlegroups in the Baltic partners was conducted. Canada leads the battlegroup in Latvia. Germany leads the battlegroup in Lithuania. The United Kingdom leads the battlegroup in Estonia. The United States leads the battlegroup in Poland.<ref name="natobal">{{cite news | title=NATO battlegroups in Baltic nations and Poland fully operational | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_146557.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=28 August 2017}}</ref> This "[[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]]" was the result of the [[2016 Warsaw summit]] and much prior planning by Stoltenberg.<ref name="efpn">{{cite news | title=NATO eFP battlegroup | url=https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/306/nato-capabilities/nato-efp-battlegroup | publication-place=Latvia | publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Latvia)|Ministry of Defence]] | date=June 2017 | url-status=dead | access-date=28 March 2022 | archive-date=17 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417112539/https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/306/nato-capabilities/nato-efp-battlegroup }}</ref><ref name="wsaw16">{{cite press release | title=NATO Secretary General outlines Warsaw Summit agenda | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_133063.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=Author | author=NATO | date=4 July 2016}}</ref>

In September 2017, Stoltenberg warned that Russia has used big military exercises, including [[Zapad 2017 exercise]] in Russia's [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] and [[Belarus]], "as a disguise or a precursor for aggressive military actions against their neighbours."<ref>{{cite news | title=Russia was the target of Nato's own fake news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/russia-zapad-2017-putin-west-fake-news-us-world-war-three-ukraine-belarus-nato-a7961856.html | work=The Independent | date=22 September 2017 | access-date=9 September 2019 | archive-date=30 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930234354/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/russia-zapad-2017-putin-west-fake-news-us-world-war-three-ukraine-belarus-nato-a7961856.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2018 ===
In January 2018, in response to the [[Turkish military operation in Afrin|Turkish invasion of northern Syria]] aimed at ousting U.S.-backed [[People's Protection Units|Syrian Kurds]] from the enclave of [[Afrin, Syria|Afrin]], Stoltenberg said that Turkey is "the NATO Ally which has suffered most from terrorist attacks over many years and Turkey, as all of the countries, have the right to self defence, but it is important that this is done in a proportionate and measured way."<ref>{{cite web | last1=Stoltenberg | first1=Jens | last2=de Cospedal García | first2=María Dolores | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/ic/natohq/opinions_151089.htm?selectedLocale=en | title=Joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Defence of Spain, María Dolores de Cospedal García | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=25 January 2018 | access-date=30 April 2018 | archive-date=30 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204718/https://www.nato.int/cps/ic/natohq/opinions_151089.htm?selectedLocale=en | url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2018, Stoltenberg stated: "We don't see any threat [from Russia] against any NATO ally and therefore, I'm always careful speculating too much about hypothetical situations."<ref>{{cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | title=NATO sees no Russian threat to any of its members – head | url=https://tass.com/world/990990 | work=[[TASS]] | date=21 February 2018 | publication-place=Moscow | publisher=Government of Russia | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153138/https://tass.com/world/990990 | url-status=live}}</ref> Stoltenberg welcomed the [[2018 Russia–United States Summit]] between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Helsinki, Finland.<ref>{{cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | title=Gorbachev has high hopes for Putin-Trump summit | url=https://apnews.com/a8cad273fde84304a2aa31c6cd5cf7a6 | work=APNews.com | publisher=Associated Press | date=28 June 2018 | access-date=17 July 2018 | archive-date=17 July 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717154114/https://apnews.com/a8cad273fde84304a2aa31c6cd5cf7a6 | url-status=live}}</ref> He said NATO is not trying to isolate Russia.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief warns against isolating Russia | url=https://www.euronews.com/2018/07/11/nato-chief-warns-against-isolating-russia | work=Euronews | date=12 July 2018 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153138/https://www.euronews.com/2018/07/11/nato-chief-warns-against-isolating-russia | url-status=live}}</ref>

At the July [[2018 Brussels summit|2018 Brussels Summit]], the Alliance reconfirmed its commitment to preserving the credibility, coherence and resilience of the deterrence and defense posture, including by increasing its responsiveness, heightening readiness and improving reinforcement. In practical terms, NATO adopted political decisions with regard to: having, by 2020, 30 battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 naval combat vessels ready to use within 30 days.<ref name="romco">{{cite web | author=Permanent Delegation of Romania to NATO | title=Collective defense | url=https://nato.mae.ro/en/node/1030 | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=Author | date=June 2021}}</ref>

=== 2019 ===
[[File:President Trump Attends the NATO Plenary Session (49168302028).jpg|thumb|left|Stoltenberg at a NATO Plenary Session with US President [[Donald Trump]] and UK Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] in December 2019]]

In March 2019, Stoltenberg stated that "Georgia will become a member of NATO".<ref>{{cite news | title=Georgia 'will join NATO': Stoltenberg | url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/georgia-will-join-nato-stoltenberg-142174 | work=Hürriyet Daily News | date=25 March 2019 | access-date=3 October 2019 | archive-date=3 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003113552/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/georgia-will-join-nato-stoltenberg-142174 | url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2019, Stoltenberg warned in a joint session of the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] of the threat posed by Russia.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief warns of Russia threat, urges unity in U.S. address | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nato/nato-chief-warns-of-russia-threat-urges-unity-in-u-s-address-idUSKCN1RF22L | work=Reuters | date=3 April 2019 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153136/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nato/nato-chief-warns-of-russia-threat-urges-unity-in-u-s-address-idUSKCN1RF22L | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief calls for confronting Russia in speech to Congress | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/03/nato-secretary-general-russia-congress-1252838 | work=Politico | date=3 April 2019 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=3 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803153136/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/03/nato-secretary-general-russia-congress-1252838 | url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, Stoltenberg hailed [[Turkey]]'s contribution to NATO. He said: "Turkey joined the Alliance in 1952, and it continues to be a highly valued member of our family of nations. As secretary-general, I greatly appreciate all that Turkey does for our Alliance."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO is committed to the defense of Turkey: Stoltenberg | url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-is-committed-to-the-defense-of-turkey-stoltenberg-143167 | work=Hürriyet Daily News | date=5 May 2019 | access-date=3 August 2019 | archive-date=22 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722130226/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-is-committed-to-the-defense-of-turkey-stoltenberg-143167 | url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2019, Stoltenberg warned that NATO needs to "address the rise of China", by closely cooperating with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO needs to address China's rise, says Stoltenberg | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-nato/nato-needs-to-address-chinas-rise-says-stoltenberg-idUSKCN1UX0YX | work=Reuters | date=7 August 2019 | access-date=9 September 2019 | archive-date=14 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814225018/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-nato/nato-needs-to-address-chinas-rise-says-stoltenberg-idUSKCN1UX0YX | url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2020, Stoltenberg urged like-minded nations to stand up to China's "bullying and coercion".<ref>{{cite news | title=China Is NATO's New Problem | url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/08/china-nato-hybrid-threats-europe-cyber/ | work=Foreign Policy | date=8 July 2020 | access-date=4 September 2020 | archive-date=12 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912231345/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/08/china-nato-hybrid-threats-europe-cyber/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

Stoltenberg "strongly condemned" the [[2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack]] on key [[Saudi Arabia]]'s oil facilities and accused [[Iran]] of "supporting different terrorist groups and being responsible for destabilising the whole region."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief 'extremely concerned' after attacks on Saudi | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190916-nato-chief-extremely-concerned-after-attacks-on-saudi | work=France 24 | date=16 September 2019 | access-date=17 September 2019 | archive-date=20 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920085739/https://www.france24.com/en/20190916-nato-chief-extremely-concerned-after-attacks-on-saudi | url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Jens Stoltenberg 2019 Vadim Chuprina.jpg|thumb|right|Stoltenberg speaks on [[Verkhovna Rada]]. [[Ukraine]]. 2019  Foto: Vadim Chuprina]]

In October 2019, [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|Turkey invaded]] the [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Kurdish areas in Syria]]. Stoltenberg said that Turkey has "legitimate security concerns" during press conference with Turkish FM [[Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Turkey's actions in Syria must be measured: NATO chief | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey-nato/turkeys-actions-in-syria-must-be-measured-nato-chief-idUSKBN1WO1YO | work=Reuters | date=9 October 2019 | access-date=15 October 2019 | archive-date=15 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015135110/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-turkey-nato/turkeys-actions-in-syria-must-be-measured-nato-chief-idUSKBN1WO1YO | url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2019, Stoltenberg told journalists in Brussels that "Since 2016, Canada and European allies have added $130 billion more to the [[List of countries by military expenditures|defense budgets]], and this number will increase to 400 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. This is unprecedented. This is making NATO stronger."<ref>{{cite web | last1=Stoltenberg | first1=Jens | last2=Trump | first2=Donald | title=Press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US President Donald Trump | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/opinions_171542.htm?selectedLocale=en | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=3 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Chief Hails 'Unprecedented' Spending Boost By Allies Ahead Of Summit | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-chief-hails-unprecedented-spending-boost-by-allies-ahead-of-summit/30299401.html | work=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] | date=29 November 2019 | access-date=7 September 2020 | archive-date=28 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212348/https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-chief-hails-unprecedented-spending-boost-by-allies-ahead-of-summit/30299401.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2020 ===
[[File:Secretary General visits Dutch airbase hosting NATO deterrence exercise 02.jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg visits a Dutch airbase hosting NATO deterrence exercise in October 2020.]]
The U.S. military's [[2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike]], which killed the high-level Iranian General [[Qasem Soleimani]], brought strong reactions from around the world. Stoltenberg said, following a meeting on 6{{nbsp}}January, "all members of the Atlantic alliance stood behind the United States in the Middle East" and that "Iran must refrain from further violence and provocations."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-iran-nato/us-briefs-nato-over-iran-strike-avoids-european-criticism-idUSKBN1Z51SI | title=U.S. briefs NATO over Iran strike, avoids European criticism | last=Emmott | first=Robin | date=6 January 2020 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=26 January 2020 | archive-date=6 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106221617/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-iran-nato/us-briefs-nato-over-iran-strike-avoids-european-criticism-idUSKBN1Z51SI | url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 February Stoltenberg opened the [[Munich Security Conference]]. Amongst the topics he chose to address were [[Donald Trump]]'s call for the European allies to contribute more funds to the common military good, the situation in Afghanistan which he promised not to leave, and the desire of Russia to reimagine the world in terms of the spheres of influence of the post-war years of the 20th century. In a thinly veiled reference to Chinese leadership in the [[5G]] telecoms sector, he said that "Keeping our societies open, free and resilient must be part of our response... We should not be tempted to trade short term economic benefits for longer-term challenges to our security."<ref name="jsm2020">{{cite news | last1=Stoltenberg | first1=Jens | title=Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_173709.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=15 February 2020}}</ref> Earlier in the day, Stoltenberg had dealt with the partnership issue, and listed New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Sweden, Ukraine and Georgia as such, saying "We support them, but they also support us. Many partners contribute to NATO missions and operations, for instance in Afghanistan or Iraq."<ref name="ndoor">{{cite web | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | title=Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the Munich Security Conference | language=en | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_173696.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=14 February 2020}}</ref>

There is a long-standing [[Aegean dispute|dispute between Turkey and Greece]] in the [[Aegean Sea]]. The disagreement flared in August.<ref name=turgre>{{cite news | title=While Turkey Provokes Greece, NATO, EU Look The Other Way | url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece_politics/arthro/while_turkey_provokes_greece_nato_eu_look_the_other_way-683142/ | work=The National Herald | date=6 August 2020 | access-date=19 August 2020 | archive-date=18 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818000303/https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece_politics/arthro/while_turkey_provokes_greece_nato_eu_look_the_other_way-683142/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gpmgct>{{cite news | last=Kouras | first=Bill | title=Greek PM Mitsotakis to Turkish President: Dialogue and agreement or the Hague Tribunal | language=en | url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/07/greek-pm-mitsotakis-to-turkish-president-dialogue-and-agreement-or-the-hague-tribunal/ | work=Greek City Times | date=7 August 2020 | access-date=16 August 2020 | archive-date=15 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815081838/https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/07/greek-pm-mitsotakis-to-turkish-president-dialogue-and-agreement-or-the-hague-tribunal/ | url-status=live}}</ref> The same month Stoltenberg said that "Both Greece and Turkey are two valued allies and both contribute to our shared security. There are some disagreements and I welcome that there are bilateral contacts trying to address these differences," adding that NATO is not a part of these bilateral talks.<ref name=sgtn>{{cite news | title=Stoltenberg: NATO not involved in resolving Greek-Turkish issues | url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/247137/article/ekathimerini/news/stoltenberg-nato-not-involved-in-resolving-greek-turkish-issues | work=Ekathimerini | date=3 December 2020 | access-date=17 August 2020 | archive-date=4 February 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204190638/http://www.ekathimerini.com/247137/article/ekathimerini/news/stoltenberg-nato-not-involved-in-resolving-greek-turkish-issues | url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2020, Stoltenberg called for an immediate end to the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|fighting]] over the breakaway [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] region, an enclave that belongs to [[Azerbaijan]] under international law but is populated and governed by ethnic Armenians.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO to continue to support Turkey, Secretary-General says | url=https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/10/05/NATO-to-continue-to-support-Turkey-Secretary-General-says/1431601916532/ | work=United Press International | date=5 October 2020 | access-date=6 October 2020 | archive-date=16 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216195329/https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/10/05/NATO-to-continue-to-support-Turkey-Secretary-General-says/1431601916532/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2021 ===
[[File:Volodymyr Zelensky at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference COP 26 (43).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg and Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] at the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference|2021 UN Climate Change Conference]] in Glasgow|left]]
On 19 February 2021 Stoltenberg addressed the [[Munich Security Conference]] via teleconference due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] with largely anodyne remarks.<ref name="jsn2030">{{cite news | last1=Stoltenberg | first1=Jens | title=NATO2030: future-proofing the Alliance: Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference 2021 | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_181696.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=19 February 2021}}</ref>

On 13 April Stoltenberg called on Russia to halt its buildup of forces near the border with Ukraine.<ref name="2021-Euronews">{{cite news | title=Russia says buildup at Ukraine border is a response to NATO 'threats' | url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/12/g7-calls-on-russia-to-cease-provocations-on-ukraine-border | work=[[Euronews]] | date=13 April 2021 | access-date=20 April 2021 | archive-date=20 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420105250/https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/12/g7-calls-on-russia-to-cease-provocations-on-ukraine-border | url-status=live}}</ref> Russian Defense Minister [[Sergey Shoygu]] said that Russia has deployed troops to its western borders for "combat training exercises" in response to NATO "military activities that threaten Russia".<ref name="2021-Euronews" /><ref name="Defender-Europe 21">{{cite news | title=Germany Says Russia Seeking To 'Provoke' With Troop Buildup At Ukraine's Border | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-military-germany-nato/31203229.html | work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | date=14 April 2021 | access-date=20 April 2021 | archive-date=20 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420180825/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-military-germany-nato/31203229.html | url-status=live}}</ref> [[Defender-Europe 21]], one of the largest [[List of NATO exercises|NATO-led military exercises]] in Europe in decades, began in mid-March 2021 and lasted until June 2021. It included "nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas" in [[Estonia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]] and other countries.<ref name="Defender-Europe 21" /><ref>{{cite news | title=Massive, Army-led NATO exercise Defender Europe kicks off | url=https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/03/15/massive-army-led-nato-exercise-defender-europe-kicks-off/ | work=[[Army Times]] | date=15 March 2021}}</ref>

On 14 April 2021, Stoltenberg said the alliance has agreed to start [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)|withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan]] by 1 May.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO to Cut Forces in Afghanistan, Match US Withdrawal | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_nato-cut-forces-afghanistan-match-us-withdrawal/6204555.html | work=[[VOA News]] | date=14 April 2021}}</ref> Soon after the withdrawal of NATO troops started, the [[Taliban]] launched an [[2021 Taliban offensive|offensive against the Afghan government]], quickly advancing in front of a collapsing [[Afghan Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite news | last1=Robertson | first1=Nic | title=Afghanistan is disintegrating fast as Biden's troop withdrawal continues | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/24/asia/afghanistan-taliban-offensive-intl-cmd/index.html | publisher=CNN | date=24 June 2021}}</ref> According to a [[United States Intelligence Community|U.S. intelligence]] report, the Afghan government would likely collapse within six months after NATO completes its withdrawal from the country.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Afghan government could fall within six months of U.S. military withdrawal, new intelligence assessment says | language=en-US | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/afghan-government-could-fall-within-six-months-of-us-military-withdrawal-new-intelligence-assessment-says/2021/06/24/42375b14-d52c-11eb-baed-4abcfa380a17_story.html | date=24 June 2021 | issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On 7 June 2021, Stoltenberg said that "we have been able to build, train Afghan security forces so they are now responsible for security in their own country."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Chief Admits Afghan Withdrawal 'Entails Risks' | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/south-central-asia_nato-chief-admits-afghan-withdrawal-entails-risks/6206738.html | work=VOA News | date=7 June 2021}}</ref> By 15 August 2021, Taliban militants controlled the vast majority of Afghanistan and had encircled the capital city of [[Kabul]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Taliban surge in Afghanistan: EU and NATO in state of shock | url=https://www.dw.com/en/taliban-surge-in-afghanistan-eu-and-nato-in-state-of-shock/a-58881129 | work=Deutsche Welle | date=16 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Nato allies urge rethink on alliance after Biden's 'unilateral' Afghanistan exit | url=https://www.ft.com/content/3ea7e87e-ab3a-4e14-8396-8061420942b0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/3ea7e87e-ab3a-4e14-8396-8061420942b0 | archive-date=10 December 2022 | url-access=subscription | url-status=live | work=Financial Times | date=17 August 2021}}</ref> Stoltenberg said that "it was a surprise, the speed of the collapse and how quickly that happened."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief blames Afghan leadership for Kabul collapse | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/nato-chief-blames-afghan-leadership-for-kabul-collapse | work=Al-Jazeera | date=17 August 2021}}</ref>

Stoltenberg attended the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]], and specified that the fight against climate change also is something the military could participate in. He also expressed that militaries should work with operating both fossil and environmentally friendly ones.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/politikk/2021/11/02/195798943/stoltenberg-varsler-kamp-mot-militaere-utslipp | title=Stoltenberg varsler kamp mot militære utslipp | publisher=ABC Nyheter | date=2 November 2021 | access-date=2 November 2021 | language=Norwegian}}</ref>

On 30 November Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] stated that an [[Enlargement of NATO|expansion of NATO's presence in Ukraine]], especially the deployment of any [[Ballistic missile|long-range missiles]] capable of striking Moscow or [[United States national missile defense|missile defence systems]] similar to those in Romania and Poland, would be a "red line" issue for the Kremlin. Putin argued that these missile-defense systems may be converted into launchers of offensive [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk]] long-range cruise missiles.<ref>{{cite news | title=Russia will act if Nato countries cross Ukraine 'red lines', Putin says | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/russia-will-act-if-nato-countries-cross-ukraine-red-lines-putin-says | work=The Guardian | date=30 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Pushes Back Against Russian President Putin's 'Red Lines' Over Ukraine | url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43334/nato-pushes-back-against-russian-president-putins-red-lines-over-ukraine | work=The Drive | date=1 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Putin warns Russia will act if NATO crosses its red lines in Ukraine | url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/stocks/putin-warns-russia-will-act-if-nato-crosses-its-red-lines-ukraine-2021-11-30/ | work=Reuters | date=30 November 2021}}</ref> He said that "In a dialogue with the United States and its allies, we will insist on working out specific agreements that would exclude any further NATO moves eastward and the deployment of weapons systems that threaten us in close vicinity to Russian territory."<ref>{{cite news | title=Putin Demands NATO Guarantees Not to Expand Eastward | url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-12-01/russia-says-its-worried-about-ukrainian-military-buildup | work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] | date=1 December 2021}}</ref> Stoltenberg replied that "It's only Ukraine and 30 NATO allies that decide when Ukraine is ready to join NATO. Russia has no veto, Russia has no say, and Russia has no right to establish a sphere of influence to try to control their neighbors."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief: "Russia has no right to establish a sphere of influence" | url=https://www.axios.com/nato-russia-ukraine-invasion-18619fd7-be80-4d37-86f8-fcebcb1fbe8a.html | work=Axios | date=1 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? And other questions | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589 | work=BBC News | date=10 December 2021}}</ref>

=== 2022 ===
{{See also|Russia–NATO relations|Ukraine–NATO relations}}
[[File:G7 leaders met at the sideline of March 2022 special NATO meeting (1).jpg|thumb|Western leaders [[2022 Brussels extraordinary summit|met in Brussels]] for a round of emergency summits of NATO, the European Council and the G7 to discuss the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], 23 March 2022.]]
On 14 January Stoltenberg condemned the [[2022 Ukraine cyberattack]]. He stated that NATOs day experts in [[Brussels]] has exchanged information with Ukraine, and that experts from the alliance would be assisting Ukrainian authorities with the matter. He added: "In the coming days, NATO and Ukraine will sign an agreement on enhanced cooperation on data security, including Ukraine's access to NATO's malware sharing platform".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/verden/2022/01/14/195817416/stoltenberg-fordommer-dataangrepet-mot-ukraina | title=Stoltenberg fordømmer dataangrepet mot Ukraina | publisher=ABC Nyheter | date=14 January 2022 | access-date=15 January 2022 | language=Norwegian}}</ref>

On 19 February at the [[Munich Security Conference]] Stoltenberg remarked that despite NATO's "strong diplomatic efforts to find a political solution [to the Russo-Ukrainian war]... we have seen no sign of withdrawal or de-escalation so far. On the contrary, Russia's build-up continues." He said "we have made written proposals to the Putin administration to reduce risks and increase transparency of military activities, address space and cyber threats, and engage on arms control, including on nuclear weapons and missiles... [Putin] is attempting to roll back history. And recreate [the] spheres of influence. [He] wants to limit NATO's right to collective defence... and demands that we should remove all our forces and infrastructure from the countries that joined NATO after the fall of the Berlin Wall... wants to deny sovereign countries the right to choose their own path. And their own security arrangements. For Ukraine – but also for other countries, such as Finland and Sweden. And for the first time, we now see Beijing joining Moscow in calling on NATO to stop admitting new members. It is an attempt to control the fate of free nations. To rewrite the international rulebook. And impose their own authoritarian models of governance."<ref name="jsmun22">{{cite news | last1=Stoltenberg | first1=Jens | title=Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference session ''Hand in hand: Transatlantic and European Security'' | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_192204.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=19 February 2022}}</ref> On the dais with him was [[Ursula von der Leyen]]. Together they proceeded to give an interview to the witness audience.[[File:Fumio Kishida poses a photo with NATO+AP4 members during the 2022 Madrid Summit (1).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg with [[Anthony Albanese]], [[Fumio Kishida]], [[Jacinda Ardern]] and [[Yoon Suk-yeol]] at the [[2022 Madrid summit]]]]On 21 February 2022, Stoltenberg condemned Russia's [[diplomatic recognition]] of two [[Self-declared states|self-proclaimed]] [[Separatism|separatist]] republics in [[Donbas]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Condemns Putin's Recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/21/nato-condemns-putins-recognition-of-donetsk-and-luhansk-a76501 | work=The Moscow Times | date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

On 4 March 2022, Stoltenberg said NATO would not establish a [[no-fly zone]] over Ukraine. He said, "we are not part of this conflict, and we have a responsibility to ensure that it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine, because that would be even more devastating and more dangerous."<ref>{{cite news | last=Cook | first=Lorne | title=NATO rules out policing no-fly zone over war-hit Ukraine | url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-europe-antony-blinken-jens-stoltenberg-0ce4ac5076a0338facab78bf624a6d3b | work=APNews.com | publisher=Associated Press | date=4 March 2022}}</ref>

On 8 March 2022, Stoltenberg warned that if there is any Russia's attack "against any NATO country, NATO territory, that will trigger Article 5" of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO chief warns Russia away from attacking supply lines supporting Ukraine | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-russia-putin-stoltenberg-nato-1.6377675 | work=CBC | date=8 March 2022}}</ref>

On 23 March 2022, Stoltenberg accused China of providing [[China–Russia relations#2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|political support to Russia]], "including by spreading blatant lies and misinformation, and expressed concern that "China could provide material support for the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion]]".<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Accuses China Of Backing Russia With "Blatant Lies" | url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nato-accuses-china-of-backing-russia-with-blatant-lies-2839216 | work=NDTV | date=23 March 2022}}</ref>

On 28 March the establishment of four more multinational battlegroups in [[Bulgaria]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]] and [[Slovakia]] was announced,<ref name="cnbc4m">{{cite news | title=NATO leaders set to OK 'major increases' of troops in response to Putin's war on Ukraine | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/23/nato-leaders-slated-to-bolster-troop-presence-in-bulgaria-hungary-romania-and-slovakia.html | publisher=CNBC LLC | date=23 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="tss4m">{{cite news | title=NATO gives green light to new battle group in Slovakia | url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22869260/nato-gives-green-light-to-new-battle-group-in-slovakia.html | agency=The Slovak Spectator | publisher=The Rock, s.r.o., Petit Press, a.s. | date=24 March 2022}}</ref> although the Slovak battlegroup had already been announced on 27 February.<ref name="kaf4m">{{cite news | title=NATO battlegroup to be deployed in Slovakia in response to Ukraine invasion | url=https://kafkadesk.org/2022/02/27/nato-battlegroup-to-be-deployed-in-slovakia-in-response-to-ukraine-invasion/ | publisher=Kafkadesk | date=27 February 2022}}</ref> This brings the total number of multinational battlegroups to eight, and Stoltenberg said ahead of an extraordinary NATO summit scheduled for March 24 in Brussels that "we will have eight multinational NATO battle groups all along the Eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea".<ref name="rfe4m">{{cite news | title=NATO To Beef Up Eastern Flank With Four More Battle Groups | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-eastern-flank-reinforcement/31766949.html | publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | date=23 March 2022}}</ref> The [[Baltic Sea]] is guarded by the [[NATO Enhanced Forward Presence]],<ref name="natomp">{{cite web | title=NATO's military presence in the east of the Alliance | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_136388.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=Author | author=NATO | date=28 March 2022}}</ref> to which the four more would be added. A multinational brigade headquarters exists in [[Craiova]], Romania and this seems to be the distribution point of the extra four battlegroups.<ref name="cam22">{{cite news | last1=Cam | first1=Tugrul | title=Amid tensions with Russia, NATO fortifies presence on eastern front | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/amid-tensions-with-russia-nato-fortifies-presence-on-eastern-front/2487118 | publisher=Anadolu Agency | date=27 January 2022}}</ref> The summit statements by Biden and NATO were somewhat controversial.<ref name="pbtwh">{{cite news | title=Statement from President Biden on the Extraordinary NATO Summit | url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/24/statement-from-president-biden-on-the-extraordinary-nato-summit/ | publisher=The White House | date=24 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="nato4m">{{cite press release | author=NATO Heads of State and Government | title=Statement by NATO Heads of State and Government | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_193719.htm | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=24 March 2022}}</ref>

=== Accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO ===
{{See also|Finland–NATO relations|Sweden–NATO relations}}
[[File:Suomen ja Ruotsin suurlähettiläät jättävät kiinnostuksenosoituksensa Natoon liittymisestä - 52082038874.jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg with Finnish ambassador to NATO [[Klaus Korhonen]] and Swedish ambassador to NATO Axel Wernhoff at the membership application submission ceremony in Brussels, 18 May 2022]]
In May 2022 Stoltenberg said [[Finland]] and Sweden would be welcomed "with open arms" to NATO if they apply for membership to the alliance.<ref>{{cite news | title=Sweden, Finland to submit NATO membership bid Wednesday | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220517-sweden-finland-to-submit-nato-membership-bid-wednesday | work=France 24 | date=17 May 2022}}</ref> While most current NATO members responded positively to the applications, Turkish president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] voiced his opposition, accusing both Finland and Sweden of tolerating Kurdish militant groups [[Kurdistan Workers' Party|PKK]] and the [[People's Defense Units|YPG]], which [[Turkey]] classifies as terrorist organizations,<ref>{{cite news | date=13 May 2022 | title=Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO | work=Reuters | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/}}</ref> and followers of [[Fethullah Gülen]], whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating a failed [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Erdogan says Swedish, Finnish delegations should not bother coming to Turkey | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-says-swedish-finnish-delegations-should-not-bother-coming-turkey-2022-05-16/ | work=Reuters | date=16 May 2022}}</ref> Stoltenberg said that Turkey has "legitimate concerns" about Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO's Stoltenberg calls Turkey's concerns on Sweden, Finland bids 'legitimate' | url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/natos-stoltenberg-calls-turkeys-concerns-on-sweden-finland-bids-legitimate/ | work=Euractiv | date=13 June 2022}}</ref>

In June, Stoltenberg warned that the war in Ukraine could last for years, saying that "We must not let up in supporting Ukraine. Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising [[2021–2023 global energy crisis|energy]] and [[2022–2023 food crises|food prices]]."<ref>{{cite news | title=Russia's war in Ukraine could last years, NATO's Stoltenberg says | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-war-ukraine-could-last-years-natos-stoltenberg-says-2022-06-18/ | work=Reuters | date=19 June 2022}}</ref>

On 30 November at the Bucharest meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, were invited their counterparts from [[Moldova]], [[Bosnia]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], as well as Finland and Sweden. In his closing press conference Stoltenberg said that NATO expressed its solidarity with all three partners and also that "if there is one lesson learned from Ukraine it is that we need to support them now. The more support we are able to provide to these countries. The more support we are able to provide to these countries... under Russian pressure and influence in different ways... it is much better to support them now than when we have seen developments going in absolutely the wrong direction as we saw with the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year."<ref name="nnn">{{cite news | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | title=NATO Secretary General, Press Conference at Foreign Ministers Meeting, Bucharest Romania 30 NOV 2022 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOcuPcPaPvw | via=YouTube | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=NATO | date=30 November 2022}}</ref>

In December, he said in an interview that "there is no doubt that a full-fledged" [[World War III|war between Russia and NATO]] is a "possibility".<ref>{{cite news | last=Keaten | first=Jamey | title=NATO chief fears Ukraine war could become a wider conflict | url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-jens-stoltenberg-government-f01121d32693881920b1fe5e8c75b22d | work=APNews.com | publisher=Associated Press | date=9 December 2022}}</ref> Stoltenberg said that Putin is planning a long war in Ukraine and is ready to launch new offensives.<ref>{{cite news | title=Putin 'planning for a long war' in Ukraine: NATO chief | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221216-putin-planning-for-a-long-war-in-ukraine-nato-chief | work=France 24 | date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

=== 2023 ===
[[File:Prime minister Rishi Sunak attends the NATO Summit in Lithunia (53040913570).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg with [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], [[Giorgia Meloni]], [[Joe Biden]], [[Rishi Sunak]], [[Gitanas Nausėda]] and [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] at the [[2023 Vilnius summit]]]]
Following the [[2023 Chinese balloon incident]] between 28 January and 4 February, Stoltenberg said the incident said the balloon "confirms a pattern of Chinese behavior where we see that China has invested heavily in new capabilities, including different types of surveillance and intelligence platforms", and that it presents security challenges for the members of NATO.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/08/spy-balloon-confirms-pattern-of-chinese-behavior-that-poses-threat-to-nato-members-stoltenberg-says.html | title=Spy balloon confirms 'pattern of Chinese behavior' that poses threat to NATO members, Stoltenberg says | last=Macias | first=Amanda | website=CNBC | date=8 February 2023 | access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>

On 12 February, a NATO spokesperson said Stoltenberg had no intention of seeking a fourth extension of his term as NATO secretary-general, after the German newspaper ''[[Welt am Sonntag]]'' reported member states wanted him to stay on while the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]] continues.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-extend-stoltenbergs-term-april-2024-welt-am-sonntag-2023-02-12/ | title=NATO's Stoltenberg will not seek another extension of his term, spokesperson says | website=Reuters | date=12 February 2023 | access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.dw.com/en/nato-chief-stoltenberg-has-no-intention-of-extending-tenure/a-64678898 | title=NATO chief has 'no intention' of extending tenure | website=Deutsche Welle | date=12 February 2023 | access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>
On 13 February, Stoltenberg said that Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] is "sending thousands and thousands of more troops, accepting a very high rate of casualty, taking big losses, but putting pressure on the Ukrainians. What Russia lacks in quality, they try to compensate in quantity."<ref>{{cite news | title=Top US general says Russia has already 'lost' the Ukraine war and has paid an 'enormous price on the battlefield' | url=https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/top-us-general-says-russia-has-already-lost-the-ukraine-war-and-has-paid-an-enormous-price-on-the-battlefield/articleshow/97926139.cms | work=Business Insider | date=14 February 2023}}</ref> He said that President Putin and the decision makers in Moscow are the only ones responsible for the Russo-Ukrainian War and it is necessary for NATO member countries to continue [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|providing military aid to Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news | title='We knew': NATO chief looks back at Russia's Ukraine invasion | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230216-we-knew-nato-chief-looks-back-at-russia-s-ukraine-invasion | work=France 24 | date=16 February 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Isaac Herzog in an official visit to the European Union in Brussels, January 2023 (GPOHZ0 1).jpeg|thumb|right|Stoltenberg and Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] at NATO headquarters in Brussels]]
On 14 June, Stoltenberg expressed support for Ukraine's [[2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive|counter-offensive against Russia]] to recapture the [[Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine|occupied territories]] of Ukraine and called on Western countries to send more weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO allies must arm Ukraine for offensive: Stoltenberg | url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20230614-nato-allies-must-arm-ukraine-for-offensive-stoltenberg | work=[[Radio France Internationale]] | date=14 June 2023}}</ref>

On 4 July, Stoltenberg was confirmed to receive a fourth extension of his mandate as NATO Secretary General to 1 October 2024, which would make his tenure as Secretary General at least a decade long.<ref>{{cite web | title=North Atlantic Council extends mandate of the NATO Secretary General. | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_216761.htm | work=[[NATO]] | date=4 July 2023}}</ref>

In September 2023, Stoltenberg warned that we "must prepare ourselves for a long war in Ukraine", saying that "if President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainians stop fighting, their country will no longer exist."<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO Chief: 'We Must Prepare Ourselves for a Long War in Ukraine' | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/stoltenberg-we-must-prepare-ourselves-for-a-long-war-in-ukraine/7271786.html | work=VOA News | date=17 September 2023}}</ref>

In October 2023, Stoltenberg condemned [[Hamas]]' actions during the [[Gaza war]] and expressed his support to Israel and its right to self-defense.<ref>{{cite news | title=Israel-Hamas war: Death toll climbs in Gaza airstrikes as Blinken visits region | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/israel-hamas-palestinian-war-attacks-gaza-strip/ | work=CBS News | date=12 October 2023}}</ref> Stoltenberg warned Iran and [[Hezbollah]] not to get involved in Israel's war with Hamas.<ref>{{cite news | title=NATO backs Israel and warns Iran to stay away | url=https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-backs-israel-and-warns-iran-to-stay-away-gaza-hamas-netanyah/ | work=Politico | date=12 October 2023}}</ref>

=== 2024 ===
[[File:United States President Joe Biden meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Monday, June 17, 2024, in the Oval Office of the White House (cropped).jpg|thumb|Stoltenberg with US President [[Joe Biden]] in June 2024]]
In February 2024, Stoltenberg warned that NATO member states have to prepare for a [[Second Cold War|confrontation with Russia]] "that could last decades". He said that the best defense tools against Russia are an increase in [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|arms supplies to Ukraine]] and an increase in NATO's military capabilities.<ref>{{cite news | last=Basay | first=Erbil | title=Russia prepares its economy for a long war, says NATO chief | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/russia-prepares-its-economy-for-a-long-war-says-nato-chief/3133488 | work=Anadolu Agency | date=10 February 2024}}</ref>

In February, Stoltenberg criticized [[Donald Trump]]'s statement that he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO member countries that don't pay their "fair share" of defense funding,<ref>{{cite news | last1=Kim | first1=Soo Rin | last2=Abdul-Hakim | first2=Gabriella | last3=Ibssa | first3=Lalee | title=Trump calls Putin's comment that he prefers Biden over Trump a 'great compliment' | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-calls-putins-comment-prefers-biden-trump-great/story?id=107251595 | work=ABC News | date=15 February 2024}}</ref> stating that any attack on the military alliance would be met with a "united and forceful response".<ref>{{cite news | last1=Chrisafis | first1=Angelique | last2=Bayer | first2=Lili | title=Nato chief says Trump remarks may put US and EU lives at risk | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/11/nato-chief-jens-stoltenberg-promises-forceful-response-to-attack-as-trump-remarks-dismissed | work=The Guardian | date=11 February 2024 | access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends NATO Summit (53847333617).jpg|thumb|right|222x222px|Stoltenberg at his last [[2024 Washington summit|NATO summit]] as Secretary-General in July 2024]]
In May, Stoltenberg called on NATO member states to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to [[Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|strike targets inside Russia]].<ref>{{cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | title=NATO's boss wants to free Ukraine to strike hard inside Russia | url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/05/24/natos-boss-wants-to-free-ukraine-to-strike-hard-inside-russia | newspaper=The Economist | date=24 May 2024}}</ref> Responding to Stoltenberg's statement, Italian Defence Minister [[Guido Crosetto]] stated that it is "wrong to increase tension" in an already "dramatic" situation and emphasised the need to "leave open the possibility of negotiating an immediate truce and initiating peace talks in the coming months."<ref>{{cite news | last=Peretti | first=Alessia | title=Italy opposes Stoltenberg on using Western weapons against targets in Russia | url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/italy-opposes-stoltenberg-on-using-western-weapons-against-targets-in-russia/ | work=Euractiv | date=27 May 2024}}</ref>

Asked about China's [[China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine|military aid to Russia]], Stoltenberg said that "Russia would not have been able to conduct the war of aggression against Ukraine without the support from China."<ref>{{cite news | last1=Bir | first1=Burak | last2=Gencturk | first2=Ahmet | title=NATO chief reiterates Ukraine's right to strike 'legitimate military targets' inside Russia | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/nato-chief-reiterates-ukraines-right-to-strike-legitimate-military-targets-inside-russia/3236097 | work=Anadolu Agency | date=31 May 2024}}</ref> He warned that "China cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to have normal trade relationships with countries in Europe and at the same time fuel the biggest war we have seen in Europe since the Second World War."<ref>{{cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | title=US, NATO urge China to 'stop' beefing Russia's defence amid Ukraine war | url=https://www.trtworld.com/europe/us-nato-urge-china-to-stop-beefing-russias-defence-amid-ukraine-war-18174612 | work=[[TRT World]] | date=18 June 2024 | agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]}}</ref>{{Quote box
| quote="I know I am leaving NATO in good hands."
| source=Jens Stoltenberg on [[Mark Rutte]] being selected to succeed him as Secretary-General<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1805880452869210275 | title=I warmly welcome #NATO Allies' choice of @MinPres Mark Rutte as my successor. Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands. | website=Twitter | date=26 June 2024 | access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
| align = right
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On 9 July 2024, Stoltenberg was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian honour in the [[United States]], from [[President of the United States|United States President]] [[Joe Biden]] for his services to NATO during the Russo-Ukrainian war. This award was given at the [[2024 Washington summit|NATO Summit in Washington, DC]].<ref name="e3972">{{cite web | last=Lotz | first=Avery | date=9 Jul 2024 | title=Biden awards Medal of Freedom to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg | url=https://www.axios.com/2024/07/09/biden-medal-of-freedom-nato-jens-stoltenberg | access-date=9 Jul 2024 | website=Axios}}</ref>

On 30 July 2024, [[Felipe VI|King Felipe VI]] of Spain appointed Stoltenberg Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Civil Merit]].<ref>{{Cite journal | author=Felipe VI | title=Real Decreto 829/2024, de 30 de julio, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica al señor Jens Stoltenberg | journal=[[Boletín Oficial del Estado]] | number=184 | date=31 July 2024 | publication-place=Madrid | publisher=State Agency for the Official State Gazette | page=97648 | url=https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2024-15827 | language=es-ES}}</ref>

In an interview in September 2024, Stoltenberg was asked ''What could have been done differently, what should have been done, to prevent Russia from going to war against Ukraine?''

He answered that he regrets that NATO allies and NATO itself did not do more to strengthen Ukraine before Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Potentially, the threshold for Russia to attack would have been higher if Ukraine had been militarily stronger. The USA, Canada and the UK trained Ukrainian soldiers in a training center in Ukraine, but NATO did not. NATO could have given much more training and equipment.<ref>{{cite interview | last=Stoltenberg | first=Jens | date=14 September 2024 | interviewer-first=Thomas | interviewer-last=Gutschker | url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/stoltenberg-haetten-mehr-fuer-ukraine-leisten-koennen-19982405.html | title="Wir hätten mehr tun können, um den Krieg zu verhindern" | work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung | access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref>

On 18 June, it was announced Hungary and Slovakia had agreed to allow outgoing Dutch Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]] to succeed Stoltenberg as Secretary General.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Sabbagh | first=Dan | date=2024-06-18 | title=Mark Rutte lined up to be Nato secretary general after Orbán deal | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/18/mark-rutte-lined-up-to-be-nato-secretary-general-after-orban-deal | access-date=2024-06-18 | work=The Guardian | language=en-GB | issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was officially selected by the [[North Atlantic Council]] on 26 June, and succeeded Stoltenberg on 1 October.<ref>{{Cite press release | author=NATO | date=2024-06-26 | title=NATO Allies select Mark Rutte as next Secretary General | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_227064.htm | access-date=2024-06-26 | publication-place=Brussels | publisher=Author | language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last1=Halasz | first1=Stephanie | last2=Kennedy | first2=Niamh | last3=Danaher | first3=Caitlin | date=2024-06-26 | title=NATO appoints Dutch PM as next chief as global challenges mount for alliance | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/26/world/nato-rutte-secretary-general-intl/index.html | access-date=2024-06-26 | work=CNN | language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | author=<!--Not stated--> | agency=Reuters | date=2024-10-01 | title=Former Dutch PM Mark Rutte takes over as Nato chief – video | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2024/oct/01/former-dutch-pm-mark-rutte-takes-over-nato-chief-video | access-date=2024-10-01 | work=The Guardian | language=en-GB | issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Nomination for governorship of the Norges Bank ===
In December 2021, it was reported that he sought the governorship of [[Norges Bank]], Norway's central bank.<ref name=jsnb>{{Cite news | last1=Solsvik | first1=Terje | last2=Fouche | first2=Gwladys | date=2021-12-14 | title=NATO's Stoltenberg seeks to become Norway's central bank governor | language=en | work=Reuters | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/natos-stoltenberg-seeks-become-norway-central-bank-governor-2021-12-14/ | access-date=2021-12-15}}</ref>

It was speculated that Stoltenberg would be nominated as Governor of the Norges Bank, which sources told ''[[Dagens Næringsliv]]'' in November 2021, said he would accept if he was nominated for the position. Stoltenberg's press advisor, Sissel Kruse Larsen, told Dagens Næringsliv that it was still too early to say what Stoltenberg would do once he returns home to Norway.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/norge/2021/11/05/195799975/kilder-til-dn-jens-stoltenberg-vil-takke-ja-til-a-bli-sjef-for-norges-bank | title=Kilder til DN: Jens Stoltenberg vil takke ja til å bli sjef for Norges Bank | publisher=ABC Nyheter | date=5 November 2021 | access-date=5 November 2021 | language=Norwegian}}</ref> Stoltenberg confirmed on 14 December that he had applied for the position, and specified that he had told the [[Ministry of Finance (Norway)|Ministry of Finance]] that he could not ascend to the position before his term as NATO Secretary-General had expired on 1 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nettavisen.no/okonomi/sokerlisten-er-klar-stoltenberg-soker-jobben/s/12-95-3424219337 | title=Søkerlisten er klar – Stoltenberg søker jobben | publisher=Nettavisen | date=14 December 2021 | access-date=14 December 2021 | language=Norwegian}}</ref>

His nomination was controversial prior to being officially announced, due to his links to the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]], friendship with Prime Minister [[Jonas Gahr Støre]] and concerns for the independence of the central bank. His pre-nomination was opposed by all opposition parties, with support only coming from the government parties and the [[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|Christian Democratic Party]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2021/12/14/jens-stoltenberg-dette-er-en-jobb-jeg-er-veldig-motivert-for/ | title=Stoltenberg vil bli sentralbanksjef – møter motstand på Stortinget | publisher=Dagsavisen | date=14 December 2021 | access-date=4 February 2022 | language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/pWbqm1/krf-stoetter-stoltenberg-i-norges-bank-svaert-dyktig-oekonom | title=KrF støtter Stoltenberg i Norges Bank: − Svært dyktig økonom | publisher=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=10 January 2022 | access-date=4 February 2022 | language=Norwegian}}</ref>

His appointment was officially announced on 4 February 2022.<ref name=vg1>{{cite web | url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/WjyLRd/jens-stoltenberg-blir-sentralbanksjef | title=Jens Stoltenberg blir sentralbanksjef | publisher=[[Verdens Gang]] | date=4 February 2022 | access-date=4 February 2022 | language=Norwegian}}</ref> However, after a NATO summit in March 2022 concerning the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Stoltenberg accepted a renewed term of one year to continue as NATO secretary-general and thereby resigned as incoming central bank governor. Acting Governor [[Ida Wolden Bache]] was instead given the term that Stoltenberg was meant to take on.<ref name=e24n>{{cite web | url=https://e24.no/boers-og-finans/i/MLbqxE/stoltenberg-trekker-seg-fra-stillingen-som-sentralbanksjef | title=Stoltenberg trekker seg fra stillingen som sentralbanksjef | publisher=E24 | date=24 March 2022 | access-date=24 March 2022 | language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name=solvang>{{Cite news | last=Solvang | first=Tiril Mettesdatter | date=24 March 2022 | title=Jens Stoltenberg trekker seg fra stillingen som sentralbanksjef | work=NRK.no | url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/jens-stoltenberg-trekker-seg-fra-stillingen-som-sentralbanksjef-1.15906487 | access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>

== Post-NATO career ==
=== Munich Security Conference ===
On 8 October 2024, it was announced that Stoltenberg would be the next Chairman of the [[Munich Security Conference]] (MSC) and would assume his role in February 2025.<ref name=sc1>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=Jens Stoltenberg to Be the Next Chairman of the Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/news/full/jens-stoltenberg-next-chairman-munich-security-conference/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Bilderberg Group ===
On 8 November 2024 Stoltenberg was appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee of the [[Bilderberg Group]], an annual private conference attended by political leaders, business executives, academics, and media representatives. The group, known for its off-the-record discussions on global affairs, has been a gathering place for high-profile figures in government and finance. His appointment placed him in a leadership role within the organization's decision-making structure.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jens Stoltenberg blir sjef i elitenettverket Bilberberg |url=https://e24.no/internasjonal-oekonomi/i/LMa1aQ/dn-jens-stoltenberg-blir-sjef-i-elitenettverket-bilderberg |work=E24}}</ref>

=== December 2024 views on Ukraine ===
In December 2024 Stoltenberg expressed support for the accelerated [[Ukraine–NATO relations|accession of Ukraine to NATO]], saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way to find a solution. But you need a line which defines where [[North Atlantic Treaty#Article 5|Article 5]] is invoked, and Ukraine has to control all the territory until that border."<ref name=dw1>{{cite news |title=Ukraine pushes for NATO membership, but it's complicated |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-pushes-for-nato-membership-but-its-complicated/a-70951477 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=3 December 2024}}</ref> He said that Ukraine could temporarily give up territories occupied by Russia in exchange for [[Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|peace]].<ref name=exn1>{{cite news |title=Ex-NATO chief Stoltenberg suggests Ukraine could temporarily cede territory for peace |url=https://en.apa.az/europe/ex-nato-chief-stoltenberg-suggests-ukraine-could-temporarily-cede-territory-for-peace-454575 |work=[[Apa.az]] |date=2 December 2024}}</ref><ref name=aatr1>{{cite news |title=Ex-NATO chief Stoltenberg suggests Ukraine could temporarily cede territory for peace |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/ex-nato-chief-stoltenberg-suggests-ukraine-could-temporarily-cede-territory-for-peace/3411067 |work=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

=== Minister of Finance (2025&ndash;present)===
On 4 February 2025, following the collapse of the coalition between the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]] and the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]], Stoltenberg succeeded [[Trygve Slagsvold Vedum]], the leader of the Centre Party, as [[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Norway's Minister of Finance]]. Stoltenberg resigned from his position as chairman of the MSC, but he still plans to return to the MSC after his tenure as minister.<ref name="finance-minister-2025">{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/norge/store-presenterer-ny-regjering-tirsdag-1.17248386 | title = Nye statsråder: Stenseng inn i regjering – Skjæran får toppjobb på Stortinget | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 4 February 2025 | access-date = 4 February 2025 | language = nb | first1 = Kristian | last1 = Skårdalsmo | first2 = Mats | last2 = Rønning | first3 = Line | last3 = Tomter | first4 = Geir Bjarte | last4 = Hjetland | first5 = Julie | last5 = Grasmo}}</ref><ref name=vg2>{{cite news |last1=Brekke |first1=Anja |last2=Haugen |first2=Bjørn |last3=Friis Edland |first3=Gyrid |last4=Rydning |first4=Emilie |last5=Røsvik |first5=Eirik |last6=Fjellanger |first6=Runa |last7=Bjarne Johnsen |first7=Alf |date=4 February 2025 |title=Stoltenberg: –⁠ Jeg hadde andre planer for livet mitt |url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/0VqWPG/vedum-til-stoltenberg-oensker-deg-lykke-til-i-ny-rolle |work=[[Verdens Gang]] |location=Oslo |publisher=[[Schibsted]] |access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> Much like his position in the MSC, Stoltenberg also stepped down as head of the steering committee to focus entirely on his responsibilities as finance minister.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stoltenberg slutter som leder i elitenettverket Bilderberg |url=https://e24.no/boers-og-finans/i/kwxBa9/stoltenberg-slutter-som-leder-i-elitenettverket-bilderberg |work=E24}}</ref>

====Tenure====
A week into his tenure, Stoltenberg was a part of the Norwegian delegation at the [[61st Munich Security Conference]]. He warned the [[United States]] against not allowing Ukraine to be a part of negotiations over a peace treaty with Russia over the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|war in Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/jens-stoltenberg-ut-mot-donald-trumps-nye-deal/s/5-95-2286445 | title = Stoltenberg ut mot Trumps nye «deal» | publisher = [[Nettavisen]] | date = 13 February 2025 | access-date = 18 February 2025 | language = nb | first = Thomas | last = Paust }}</ref>

Stoltenberg launched an initiative to seek a compromise solution on tax settlement in March, which most of the opposition turned down with the exception of the [[Green Party (Norway)|Greens]] and the [[Red Party (Norway)|Red Party]]. Despite this setback, he expressed continued optimism about the proposal and cited the heightened global situation and the necessity to seek advise on how to change the tax system.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/0VJ2JG/stoltenberg-jeg-mener-fortsatt-det-er-en-god-ide | title = Stoltenberg: –⁠ Jeg mener fortsatt at det er en god idé | publisher = [[Verdens Gang]] | date = 7 March 2025 | access-date = 7 March 2025 | language = nb | first1 = Anja A. T.  | last1 = Brekke | first2 = Eirik | last2 = Røsvik | first3 = Runa | last3 = Fjellanger }}</ref>

Stoltenberg accompanied prime minister [[Jonas Gahr Støre]] during his visit to [[Washington, D.C.]] in April to meet [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Donald Trump]] to discuss US&ndash;Norway relations, [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|the war in Ukraine]] and Norway's role in the [[Arctic]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/ytring/ukontroversielt-er-bra-1.17393301 | title = Ukontroversielt er bra | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 25 April 2025 | access-date = 25 April 2025 | language = nb | first = Sigurd Falkenberg | last = Mikkelsen}}</ref><ref name="peu1">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/trump-ukraine-deal-norwegian-leaders-00307891 |title=Trump says he's got his 'own deadline' for Ukraine talks as tensions flare }}</ref>

During the summer of 2025, he came under fire for the [[Government Pension Fund of Norway]] investing in Israeli companies that contributed in the [[Gaza war|killing of civilians in Gaza]]. Stoltenberg argued that the fund's own Council on Ethics should evaluate whether or not they should sell themselves out of such companies.<ref>{{cite web | url =  https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/rPqvRA/stoltenberg-moeter-pressen-om-oljefondet | title = Stoltenberg om Oljefondet: –⁠ Forstår at folk stiller spørsmål | publisher = [[Verdens Gang]] | date = 5 August 2025 | access-date = 13 September 2025 | language = nb | first = Martha C. S. | last = Díaz | first2 = Anja A. T.  | last2 = Brekke | first3 = Lone  | last3 = Lohne | first4 = Helene | last4 = Mariussen | first5 = Bjørn | last5 = Haugan }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/alVr7L/stoltenberg-vil-be-norges-bank-og-etikkraadet-om-ny-gjennomgang-av-israelske-selskaper | title = Stoltenberg: Vil be Norges Bank og Etikkrådet om ny gjennomgang av israelske selskaper | publisher = [[Verdens Gang]] | date = 5 August 2025 | access-date = 13 September 2025 | language = nb | first = Martha C. S. | last = Díaz | first2 = Elise | last2 = Kvien}}</ref> The fund eventually sold itself out of eleven companies out of sixty-one they had invested in, a move Stoltenberg supported.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/norge/oljefondet-har-selt-seg-ut-av-11-israelske-selskap-1.17524092 | title = Oljefondet har selt seg ut av 11 israelske selskap | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 11 August 2025 | access-date = 13 September 2025 | language = nn | first = Ragnhild | last = Vartdal | first2 = Tore | last2 = Tollersrud | first3 = Andreas de Brito | last3 = Jonassen | first4 = Ola | last4 = Mjaaland}}</ref> Stoltenberg was asked on several occasions by the [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs]] about his handling of the issue, but were unsatisfied with his responses. This came to a head following his response after the [[2025 Norwegian parliamentary election|2025 parliamentary election]], with members expressing that the committee should open a case against him, but this would ultimately be decided by the new members of the committee once parliament has been constituted for the next parliamentary term.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/norge/strid-om-oljefondet_-na-ma-stoltenberg-svare-stortinget-1.17524853?autoLogin=true | title = Stoltenberg må svare Stortinget: – Har ikke hatt kontroll | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 12 August 2025 | access-date = 14 September 2025 | language = nb | first = Kristian | last = Skårdalsmo | first2 = Kawan Noradin | last2 = Ali | first3 = Lisbeth | last3 = Skei }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/norge/jens-stoltenberg-svarer-etter-oljefond-kritikken-1.17552355 | title = Frølich om Stoltenberg-svar: Kontrollsak rykker nærare | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 2 September 2025 | access-date = 14 September 2025 | language = nn | first = Fatiha Mahmoud | last = Farah | first2 = Kristian | last2 = Skårdalsmo | first3 = Silja Björklund | last3 = Einarsdóttir | first4 = Halldor | last4 = Asvall }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/B0g42E/stoltenberg-har-avgitt-sitt-tredje-svar-til-kontrollkomiteen | title = Stoltenberg har avgitt sitt tredje svar til kontrollkomiteen | publisher = [[Aftenposten]] | date = 12 September 2025 | access-date = 14 September 2025 | language = nb | first = Kenneth Kandolf | last = Haug}}</ref>

He presented the government's budget for 2026 on 15 October. The budget notably detailed that young people would receive 500 million NOK in tax lottery, the price of electric vehicles would increase, Norway Price (''Norgespris'') would be retained and likewise the price for kindergarten slots, a lower tax on income and a change in the wealth tax. The proposed budget received criticism from both supporting and opposition parties, with the former highlighting lack of action for combatting inequality, green industry and environmental action and centralisation. The latter criticised it both for not prioritising crime and taxes and cutting in parental allowance.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/norge/slik-blir-statsbudsjettet-2026-1.17611152?autoLogin=true | title = Dette foreslår Ap: – Vi er forberedt på krevende forhandlinger | publisher = [[NRK]] | date = 15 October 2025 | access-date = 17 October 2025 | language = nb | first = Ingrid Bjørndal  | last = Farestvedt | first2 = Karoline Johannessen | last2 = Litland | first3 = Silja Björklund | last3 = Einarsdóttir | first4 = Mats | last4 = Rønning  | first5 = Ismail Burak | last5 = Akkan | first6 = Per-Ivar | last6 = Kvalsvik | first7 = Lars Thomas | last7 = Nordby | first8 = Benyamin | last8 = Farnam | first9 = Regine Engelina | last9 = Hatvik}}</ref>

After several revelations determined that the government had misled voters during the 2025 election campaign and contradicted their own budget proposals, Stoltenberg was confronted with his lack of presence to tackle the issue after going on a book tour. He emphasised that the book tour had been scheduled long before the budget controversy had arisen and further expressed that it was unfortunate that issues his party had campaigned on had been removed from the budget and that it was important to rectify their mistakes.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/jens-stoltenberg-tilbake-fra-bokturne-_-opposisjonen-krev-svar-om-ferjetabben-1.17622036?autoLogin=true | title = Auka press mot Stoltenberg: – Skugga banen og drog på ferie | publisher = [[NRK]] Vestland | date = 22 October 2025 | access-date = 26 October 2025 | language = nn | first = Håvard | last = Nyhus | first2 = Kristian | last2 = Skårdalsmo | first3 = Lisbeth | last3 = Skei | first4 = Espen | last4 = Alnes | first5 = Benyamin | last5 = Farnam }}</ref>

== Honours and medals ==
===National honours and medals===
*{{flag|Norway}}: [[King Harald V's Jubilee Medal 1991–2016]] (2016)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tildeling av Kong Harald Vs jubileumsmedalje 1991-2016 |url=https://www.kongehuset.no/binfil/download2.php?tid=133159 |website=The Royal House of Norway}}</ref>

===Foreign honours===
*{{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] (2024)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 October 2024 |title=NAVO-secretaris-generaal Stoltenberg krijgt Grootlint in Leopoldsorde |trans-title=NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg receives Grand Ribbon in the Order of Leopold |url=https://www.msn.com/nl-be/nieuws/nationaal/navo-secretaris-generaal-stoltenberg-krijgt-grootlint-in-leopoldsorde/ar-AA1njhz5 |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=MSN |language=nl |agency=[[Belga (news agency)|Belga]]}}</ref>
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}: Member 3rd Class of the [[Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2024 |title=Prezident republiky udělil státní vyznamenání Jensi Stoltenbergovi |url=https://www.hrad.cz/cs/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/aktualni-tiskove-zpravy/prezident-republiky-udeli-statni-vyznamenani-jensi-stoltenbergovi-17895 |website=Pražský hrad}}</ref>
*{{flag|Estonia}}: 
**Member 1st Class of the  [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]] (2019) <ref>{{Cite web |title=president.ee |url=https://president.ee/et/teenetemargid/teenetemarkide-kavalerid/30924-jens-stoltenberg |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=president.ee}}</ref>
**Cross of Merit, 1st Class, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Minister awards Crosses of Merit of the Foreign Ministry for contributions to Estonia's freedom and statehood {{!}} Välisministeerium |url=https://vm.ee/en/news/foreign-minister-awards-crosses-merit-foreign-ministry-contributions-estonias-freedom-and-0 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=vm.ee |language=en}}</ref>
*{{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Lion of Finland]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stubbilta erityinen kunnianosoitus |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/717ba4ae-0aea-47a0-8d1d-aab73b556506 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref>
*{{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross 1st Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 October 2024 |title=Verleihung des Verdienstordens an Jens Stoltenberg |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/2024/10/241022-OV-Stoltenberg.html |website=Bundespräsidialamt}}</ref>
*{{flag|Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]] (2025)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stoltenberg får japansk heder |url=https://www.forsvaretsforum.no/innenriks-japan-jens-stoltenberg/stoltenberg-far-japansk-heder/435231 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Forsvarets Forum|language=no}}</ref>
*{{flag|Latvia}}: Member 1st Class of the [[Order of the Three Stars]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Par apbalvošanu ar Triju Zvaigžņu ordeni - Latvijas Vēstnesis |url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/op/2024/97.14 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Vestnesis|language=lv}}</ref>
*{{flag|Lithuania}}: 
**Grand Cross of the [[Order of Vytautas the Great]] (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=1K-1547 Dėl Lietuvos Respublikos ir užsienio valstybių piliečių apdovanojimo Lietuvos valstybės ordinais ... |url=https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/a8cc4243316411e98893d5af47354b00?positionInSearchResults=11&searchModelUUID=9656b006-686f-4285-86f2-971954ea25e0 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=e-seimas.lrs.lt}}</ref>
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Cross of Vytis]] (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=1K-1385 Dėl apdovanojimo Vyčio kryžiaus ordino Didžiuoju kryžiumi |url=https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/987369d311fe11eea9b3de7dd350a34e?positionInSearchResults=0&searchModelUUID=c7c6a594-ef0c-4102-a66d-e2f34d5e1a79 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=e-seimas.lrs.lt}}</ref>
*{{flag|Montenegro}}: Member 2nd Class of the [[Order of the Republic of Montenegro]] (2017)<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 June 2017 |title=Vujanović awarded Stoltenberg with the Order of Montenegro on a ribbon |url=https://en.vijesti.me/news-b/politika/77673/Vujanovic-awarded-Stoltenberg-with-the-Order-of-Montenegro-on-a-ribbon |website=Vijesti}}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite tweet | user=MinPres | author=Dick Schoof | number=1838956348576354805 | title=As NATO Secretary-General for the past 10 years, @jensstoltenberg has led the alliance through one of the most turbulent periods since the Second World War. He performed the role with expertise, calm and dignity. | date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ukraine}}: Member 1st Class of the [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]] (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №556/2023 |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/5562023-48201 |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Президента України |language=uk}}</ref>
*{{flag|United States of America}}:
** [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (2024)<ref name="e397">{{cite web | last=Lotz | first=Avery | title=Biden awards Medal of Freedom to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg | website=Axios | date=9 Jul 2024 | url=https://www.axios.com/2024/07/09/biden-medal-of-freedom-nato-jens-stoltenberg | access-date=9 Jul 2024}}</ref>
**[[Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service]] (2024)<ref>{{cite web | title=NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg receives the US Department of Defense's Medal for distinguished Public Service | website=NATO | date=8 July 2024 | url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/photos_227557.htm | access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
*{{flag|Spain}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOE-A-2024-15827 Real Decreto 829/2024, de 30 de julio, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica al señor Jens Stoltenberg. |url=https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2024-15827 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.boe.es}}</ref>
*{{flag|Sweden}}: Commander Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Polar Star]] (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordnar till tio utländska medborgare |url=https://kungligmajestatsorden.se/nyhetsarkiv/nyheter/2024-10-22-ordnar-till-tio-utlandska-medborgare |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=kungligmajestatsorden.se |language=sv}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery|File:Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon (left), Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meet 151008-D-LN567-076.jpg|Stoltenberg with UK Defence Secretary [[Michael Fallon]], US Defense Secretary [[Ash Carter]], and German Defence Minister [[Ursula von der Leyen]] in Brussels, October 2015|File:Sekretarz generalny NATO w Polsce (26762480704).jpg|Stoltenberg and Polish Prime Minister [[Beata Szydło]] in Warsaw, 31 May 2016|File:Sargsyan and Stoltenberg (2017-02-27).jpg|Stoltenberg and Armenian President [[Serzh Sargsyan]] in Brussels, 27 February 2017|File:Ukraine – NATO Commission chaired by Petro Poroshenko (2017-07-10) 21.jpg|Stoltenberg and Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]] in Kyiv, 10 July 2017|File:Azerbaijani President and NATO Secretary General.jpg|Stoltenberg and Azerbaijani President [[Ilham Aliyev]] in Brussels, 23 November 2017|File:Secretary Pompeo Chats with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and his UK and Turkish Counterparts During the NATO Ministerial in Brussels (41029400304).jpg|Stoltenberg with US Secretary of State Pompeo, UK Foreign Secretary Johnson, and Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu, Brussels, April 2018|File:James Mattis and Jens Stoltenberg 180607-D-IO684-049 (27788405137).jpg|Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Jim Mattis]] in Brussels, 7 June 2018|File:TrumpNato18.jpg|A meeting of NATO heads of States and governments on 11 July 2018 in Brussels|200229-D-AP390-1301 (49603988937).jpg|Stoltenberg with Afghan President [[Ashraf Ghani]] in Kabul, Afghanistan, February 2020|File:200212-D-AP390-6107 (49672771878).jpg|Stoltenberg with U.S. Defense Secretary [[Mark Esper]] in Brussels, 12 February 2020|File:Taro Kono and Jens Stoltenberg at 2020 MSC (1).jpg|Stoltenberg with Japanese Defense Minister [[Taro Kono]] at the 56th Munich Security Conference in February 2020|File:210414-D-XI929-1062 (51115720852).jpg|Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]] in Brussels, 14 April 2021|File:НАТО Самит 2021 NATO Summit 2021 -14.06.2021- (51247770580).jpg|Stoltenberg with Macedonian Prime Minister [[Zoran Zaev]] during a NATO summit on 14 June 2021|File:Pedro Sánchez NATO SG Jens Stoltenberg La Moncloa 2021 (3).jpg|Stoltenberg and Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez]] in Madrid, 8 October 2021|File:Pääministeri Sanna Marin tapasi Naton pääsihteeri Jens Stoltenbergin 25.10.2021. (51628817943).jpg|Stoltenberg and Finnish Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin]] in Helsinki, 25 October 2021|File:220602-D-BN624-0022 (52117014847).jpg|Stoltenberg and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at [[The Pentagon]] on 2 June 2022|File:Secretary Blinken Meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (52345188073).jpg|Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in Brussels, 9 September 2022|File:Isaac Herzog in an official visit to the European Union in Brussels, January 2023 (GPOHZ0 4).jpeg|Stoltenberg and Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] in Brussels, 26 January 2023|File:P061521-785055.jpg|Stoltenberg and President of the European Council [[Charles Michel]] in Brussels, 29 June 2023|File:Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, meets United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2024 (cropped).jpg|Stoltenberg with US Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in Washington, D.C., 29 January 2024|File:Rustem Umerov of Ukraine with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. at NATO in Brussels, Belgium, June 13, 2024.jpg|Stoltenberg at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, 13 June 2024|height=150|width=200}}

== In popular culture ==
=== Incognito taxi driver in Norway ===
In August 2013, Stoltenberg said on his Facebook page that he had spent an afternoon working ''[[Anonymity|incognito]]'' as a taxi driver in Oslo.<ref name=beeb>{{cite news | work=BBC News | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23655675 | title=Norway PM Jens Stoltenberg works as secret taxi driver | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811192438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23655675 | archive-date=11 August 2013 | date=11 August 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> Stoltenberg said he had wanted to "hear from real Norwegian voters" and that "taxis were one of the few places where people shared their true views." He added that, before driving the taxi, he had not driven a car in eight years.<ref name=beeb /> The event was videotaped in a [[hidden camera]] fashion, and released as a promotional video by the Labour party for the election campaign.<ref>{{cite news | last=Peters | first=Tim | title=Taxi-Jens lurte velgere med skjult kamera ** – Fikk en del kritikk for kjøringen min | newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] | access-date=23 March 2014 | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2013/artikkel.php?artid=10119094 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323225210/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2013/artikkel.php?artid=10119094 | archive-date=23 March 2014 | url-status=live | language=no}}</ref> It was later confirmed that 5 of the 14 customers were paid and recruited by the production company that produced the event for the Labour Party;<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Davidson | first=Jacob | access-date=23 March 2014 | url=https://world.time.com/2013/08/12/watch-norwegian-p-m-jens-stoltenberg-goes-incognito-as-a-cab-driver/ | title=Norwegian Prime Minister's Taxi Stunt Involved Paid Actors | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323225635/http://world.time.com/2013/08/12/watch-norwegian-p-m-jens-stoltenberg-goes-incognito-as-a-cab-driver/ | archive-date=23 March 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Johansen | first=Nilas | title=Fikk betalt for tur med "Taxi-Jens" Brukte "street casting" for å sikre passasjerer til statsministeren | trans-title=Got paid for the trip with "Taxi Jens" Used "street casting" to ensure passengers to the Prime Minister | access-date=23 March 2014 | newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10119280 | date=12 August 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323225254/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=10119280 | archive-date=23 March 2014 | language=no}}</ref> however, none knew that they would meet Stoltenberg.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dw.com/en/a-taxi-stunt-goes-awry-for-norways-prime-minister/av-17023271 | title=Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg Drives a Taxi | date=12 August 2013 | first1=Andreas | last1=Illmer | publisher=Deutsche Welle, Germany | access-date=18 May 2017 | archive-date=30 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030100638/https://www.dw.com/en/a-taxi-stunt-goes-awry-for-norways-prime-minister/av-17023271 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsvaqF9KZXI | last=Kempe | first=Frank | title=Norway PM drives taxi to win voters | date=12 August 2013 | work=[[Journal (German TV programme)|Journal]] | publication-place=Berlin, Germany | publisher=Deutsche Welle | via=YouTube | access-date=18 May 2017 | archive-date=3 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303061508/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsvaqF9KZXI | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== BBC Radio 4 – ''Desert Island Discs'' ===
On 12 July 2020 Stoltenberg was the invited guest on the long running [[BBC Radio 4]] programme ''[[Desert Island Discs]]''.
His musical choices included "[[Hungry Heart]]", sung by [[Bruce Springsteen]]; "[[So Long, Marianne]]", by [[Leonard Cohen]]; and "No Harm", by the duo [[Smerz]], one of whom is his daughter Catharina.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN24I0XJ Springsteen and Stoltenberg: NATO secretary-general picks top tracks], [[Reuters]], 17 July 2020, accessed 15 February 2021</ref>

=== In other media ===
In the crime drama ''[[22 July (film)|22 July]]'', which depicts the [[2011 Norway attacks]], he is played by actor Ola G. Furuseth.

== Controversies ==
As a youth, Stoltenberg participated in protest rallies against the [[Vietnam War|U.S. war in Vietnam]] in the 1970s.<ref name="local">{{cite news
 | author        = <!--Not stated-->
 | title         = Nato boss sang anti-Nato songs as a youth
 | url           = https://www.thelocal.no/20150806/nato-boss-sung-anti-nato-songs-as-a-youth
 | publisher     = [[The Local]] Norway 
 | date          = 2015-08-06
 | language      = en
 | access-date   = 2025-06-28
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20190714103832/https://www.thelocal.no/20150806/nato-boss-sung-anti-nato-songs-as-a-youth
 | archive-date  = 2019-07-14
}}</ref> In 2011, Stoltenberg said: ''"We sang the chorus, 'Singing Norway, Norway out of Nato.' It was a hit."''<ref name="local" />

In 2001, Stoltenberg crashed his Labour Party (Ap) owned car into a parked car; he then left the premises without leaving a note with his name or number; the damages cost 8,000 [[Norwegian kroner]] to repair.<ref>{{cite news
 | author        = Hultgreen, Gunnar
 | title         = Jens varslet ikke eieren
 | trans-title   = Jens did not notify the owner
 | url           = http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2001/12/08/299904.html
 | newspaper     = [[Dagbladet]]
 | language      = no
 | date          = 2001-12-08
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20011208102121/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2001/12/08/299904.html
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-date  = 2001-12-08
 | access-date   = 2025-06-28
}}</ref>

In 2002, Stoltenberg admitted to having used [[hashish]] ([[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]) in his youth.<ref>{{cite news
 | author        = Kaasa, Kjell M.
 | title         = Ja, jeg har prøvd hasj!
 | trans-title   = Yes, I have tried hashish!
 | date          = 2002-11-02
 | url           = http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2002/11/02/352834.html
 | newspaper     = [[Dagbladet]]
 | language      = no
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20021102110239/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2002/11/02/352834.html
 | archive-date  = 2002-11-02
 | access-date   = 2025-06-28
}}</ref> He therefore asked the [[Ministry of Justice and Public Security]] to evaluate his impartiality in the upcoming government response to the report on drugs by the Stoltenberg Commission, headed by his father, [[Thorvald Stoltenberg]].<ref>{{cite news
 | title         = Vurderer statsministerens habilitet i narkotikapolitikken: Justisdepartementet skal vurdere om statsminister Jens Stoltenberg (Ap) er habil til å delta i regjeringens behandling av Rapport om narkotika, som nylig er sendt på høring.
 | trans-title   = Considering the Prime Minister's impartiality in drug policy: ''The Ministry of Justice will assess whether Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Labour Party) is competent to participate in the government's consideration of the Report on Drugs, which has recently been sent for consultation.''
 | url           = http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10010872
 | language      = no
 | date          = 2010-11-10
 | newspaper     = [[Verdens Gang]]
 | agency        = [[Norwegian News Agency|NTB]]
 | access-date   = 2025-06-28
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-date  = 2010-11-13
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20101113023454/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10010872
}}</ref>

In 2011 Stoltenberg received a 380,000 kroner boat as a birthday gift from the [[Norwegian Labour Party|Norwegian Labour Party (Ap)]] and the [[Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions|Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO)]]; the Ap & LO also paid the tax for the gift, which led to criticism.<ref>{{cite news
 | author        = Thomas Ege, Rune
 | title         = Stoltenberg fikk båt til 380.000: ''(VG Nett) Jens Stoltenbergs 50-årsgave fra Arbeiderpartiet, LO og flere fagforbund får opposisjonen til å rase: En fritidsbåt til nesten 380.000 kroner.''
 | trans-title   = Stoltenberg received a boat for 380.000NKr: ''(VG Nett) Jens Stoltenberg's 50th birthday gift from the Labor Party, LO and several trade unions is making the opposition furious: A pleasure boat worth almost 380,000 kroner.''
 | newspaper     = [[Dagbladet]]
 | language      = no
 | url           = http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/stoltenberg-regjeringen/stoltenberg-fikk-baat-til-380-000/a/10080554/
 | date          = 2011-07-22
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20151126002555/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/stoltenberg-regjeringen/stoltenberg-fikk-baat-til-380-000/a/10080554/
 | archive-date  = 2015-11-26
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | author        = Johanson, Marianne
 | title         = Ap betalte skatt for båtgaven til Jens" ''(VG) Først fikk Jens Stoltenberg en båt til 380000 kroner i 50-årsgave fra Ap og LO. Så fikk han nye 350000 kroner for å betale skatten for den fete Ap-gaven.''
 | trans-title   = Labour (Party) paid taxes for Jens' boat gift: ''(VG) First, Jens Stoltenberg received a boat worth 380,000 kroner as a 50th anniversary gift from the Norwegian Labour Party and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. Then he received another 350,000 kroner to pay the tax on the big Labour Party gift.''
 | newspaper     = [[Dagbladet]]
 | language      = no
 | date          = 22 October 2011
 | url           = http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/ap-betalte-skatt-for-baatgaven-til-jens/a/10022907/
 | access-date   = 2025-06-28
 | url-status    = live
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20150501113206/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/arbeiderpartiet/ap-betalte-skatt-for-baatgaven-til-jens/a/10022907
 | archive-date  = 2015-05-01
}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Stoltenberg is married to diplomat [[Ingrid Schulerud]] and they have two children: a son, Axel Stoltenberg (born 1989) who is studying Chinese at the [[Shanghai Jiaotong University]]<ref>{{cite news | title=Stoltenberg til Kina | trans-title=Stoltenberg to China | newspaper=Dagens Næringsliv | url=http://www.dn.no/talent/article2462660.ece | access-date=17 January 2013 | date=3 September 2012 | language=no | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928032825/http://www.dn.no/talent/article2462660.ece | archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date=18 October 2012 | title=Axel Stoltenberg, styremedlem | trans-title=Axel Stoltenberg, Board member | language=no | url=http://www.ansa.no/ANSAland/Kina/Lokallag/ANSA-Shanghai/Styret-i-ANSA-Shanghai/Solveig-Hunstad-Evensen/ | website=Ansa.no | access-date=17 January 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 September 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927215514/http://www.ansa.no/ANSAland/Kina/Lokallag/ANSA-Shanghai/Styret-i-ANSA-Shanghai/Solveig-Hunstad-Evensen/}}</ref> and daughter Anne Catharina Stoltenberg (born 1992) who is a part of [[Smerz]], an [[experimental pop]] and [[electronic music]] duo signed to [[XL Recordings]].<ref name=a /><ref>{{cite news | author=Helljesen, Vilde | title="Hopalong Cassidy" fyller 50 år | trans-title="Hopalong Cassidy" turns 50 years | url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.6522229 | publisher=[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]] | location=Oslo, Norway | date=14 March 2009 | access-date=23 July 2009 | language=no | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518043207/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.6522229 | archive-date=18 May 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/5391896 | title=Smerz (2) | website=Discogs | access-date=9 October 2019 | archive-date=9 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009182629/https://api.discogs.com/artists/5391896 | url-status=live}}</ref>

He has one living sister, [[Camilla Stoltenberg|Camilla]], a medical researcher and administrator who is one year older than he; and one late sister, [[Nini Stoltenberg|Nini]], four years younger, who died in 2014. Nini was a recovering heroin [[drug addiction|addict]], and the Norwegian media have covered the family's efforts to cope with this challenge.<ref>{{cite news | title=Hvem i helvete i regjeringen er det som har bestemt det? | trans-title=Who the hell is the government that has decided it? | work=Dagbladet | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/magasinet/2008/04/07/531582.html | date=9 April 2008 | language=no | access-date=25 October 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409234133/http://www.dagbladet.no/magasinet/2008/04/07/531582.html | archive-date=9 April 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref>

He prefers to spend his summer vacations at his family's cottage on the [[Hvaler]] Islands in the [[Oslofjord]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Tinlund | first=Tore | title=Her er Stoltenbergs ferieparadis | trans-title=Here is Stoltenberg's vacation paradise | url=http://www.f-b.no/nyheter/her-er-stoltenbergs-ferieparadis-1.1830547 | date=31 August 2009 | access-date=17 January 2013 | language=no | newspaper=Fredrikstads blad | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620153558/http://www.f-b.no/nyheter/her-er-stoltenbergs-ferieparadis-1.1830547 | archive-date=20 June 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref> An avid outdoorsman, he rides his bike often and during the winter season he is an active cross-country skier.<ref>{{cite news | last=Hellen | first=Bjørnar | language=no | title=Stoltenberg tester VM-løypene | trans-title=Stoltenberg tested World Cup trails | access-date=17 January 2013 | publisher=NRK | url=http://www.nrk.no/sport/stoltenberg-testet-vm-loypene-1.7505838 | date=13 February 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928044328/http://www.nrk.no/sport/stoltenberg-testet-vm-loypene-1.7505838 | archive-date=28 September 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2011, in order to mark 100 years since [[Roald Amundsen]] reached the south pole on skis, Stoltenberg journeyed to [[Antarctica]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Kristiansen | first=Bjørn | title=Stoltenberg på Sørpolen | trans-title=Stoltenberg at the South Pole | language=no | date=13 December 2011 | access-date=17 January 2012 | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/12/12/nyheter/innenriks/jens_stoltenberg/sorpolen/roald_amundsen/19382520/ | newspaper=Dagbladet | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109080304/http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/12/12/nyheter/innenriks/jens_stoltenberg/sorpolen/roald_amundsen/19382520/ | archive-date=9 January 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> He suffers from [[ankylosing spondylitis]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Buer |first=Jonas Kure |date=March 2024 |title=Bio-imaginaries: 'Biologics', Bricolage, and the Making of Pharmaceutical Knowledge |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379133110_Bio-imaginaries_'Biologics'_Bricolage_and_the_Making_of_Pharmaceutical_Knowledge |journal=Medicine Anthropology Theory |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=1–25 |via=Research Gate}}</ref> Stoltenberg is also a keen [[video gamer]] specifically strategy genre games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BRYNE |first=SNORRE |date=2008-04-08 |title=Ikke alle får nick tildelt av KGB |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/ikke-alle-far-nick-tildelt-av-kgb/66460361 |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Dagbladet |language=nb-NO}}</ref>

Although being portrayed as an [[Atheism|atheist]] for most of his adult life, and declining membership in the formerly official [[Church of Norway]],<ref>{{cite news | last=Melå | first=Veronica | url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=9086377 | access-date=17 January 2013 | newspaper=[[Verdens Gang]] | title=Statsministeren må være kristen | language=no | date=14 July 2000 | archive-date=10 June 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610153154/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=9086377}}</ref> Stoltenberg has stated that he does not consider himself an atheist. He explained: "Although I am not a member of any denomination, I do believe that there is something greater than man. Some call it God, others call it something else. For me, it's about understanding that we humans are small in relation to nature, in relation to the powers that are bigger and stronger than man can ever comprehend. I find that in a church."<ref name=b>{{cite news | title=Man må tro at det nytter | trans-title=One must believe that it is possible | url=http://www.bt.no/nyheter/--Man-ma-tro-at-det-nytter-2633333.html | author1=Erik Fossen | author2=Håvard Bjelland | access-date=17 January 2013 | date=31 December 2011 | newspaper=Bt.no | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927204323/http://www.bt.no/nyheter/--Man-ma-tro-at-det-nytter-2633333.html | archive-date=27 September 2013 | language=no | url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of heads of government that have visited the South Pole]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{C-SPAN|87824}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Egil Knudsen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Workers' Youth League (Norway)|Workers' Youth League]]|years=1985–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Turid Birkeland]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Thorbjørn Jagland]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Labour Party (Norway)|Labour Party]]|years=2002–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jonas Gahr Støre]]}}
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{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Finn Kristensen]]|as=Minister of Industry}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norway)|Minister of Industry and Energy]]|years=1993–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Grete Knudsen]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Sigbjørn Johnsen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]]|years=1996–1997}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gudmund Restad]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Kjell Magne Bondevik]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Norway]]|years=2000–2001}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kjell Magne Bondevik]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Norway]]|years=2005–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Erna Solberg]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Trygve Slagsvold Vedum]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Finance (Norway)|Minister of Finance]]|years=2025&ndash;present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary General of NATO]]|years=2014–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mark Rutte]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{NATOSecGens}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoltenberg, Jens}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Labour Party (Norway)]]
[[Category:Ministers of finance of Norway]]
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[[Category:Stoltenberg family|Jens]]
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