Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in a recent Der Spiegel interview that he "cannot promise that the United States will remain in NATO." Stoltenberg, who currently serves as Norway's finance minister after ending his NATO tenure in 2024, made these comments amid rising tensions between Washington and European allies.
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump has renewed his push to annex the mineral-rich Arctic island of Greenland and has refused to rule out withdrawing the US from NATO if the bloc opposes his ambitions. "We must engage with the United States, which also means speaking up when we disagree," the former NATO chief said.
Stoltenberg welcomed the European response, pointing to joint statements from Nordic countries, Germany, and other European states backing Copenhagen and reaffirming that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. He added that respecting the sovereignty of NATO allies is essential.
He said European countries "must do everything they can to reduce the risk of the US leaving." The former NATO Secretary General believes that measures must be taken to preserve the bloc, "regardless of whether the United States remains an active ally in NATO or not."
