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Secretary General of NATO

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Secretary General of NATO

The secretary general of NATO is the chief civil servant of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an intergovernmental military alliance with 32 member states. The officeholder is an international diplomat responsible for coordinating the workings of the alliance, leading NATO's international staff, chairing the meetings of the North Atlantic Council and most major committees of the alliance, with the notable exception of the NATO Military Committee, as well as acting as NATO's spokesperson. The secretary general does not have a military command role; political, military and strategic decisions ultimately rest with the member states. Together with the chair of the NATO Military Committee and the supreme allied commander, the officeholder is one of the foremost officials of NATO. The current secretary general is former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who took office on 1 October 2024.

Infobox

Type
mw- ChairpersonSpokesperson
Abbreviation
NATO SecGen
Member of
North Atlantic Council
Seat
NATO headquarters
Appointer
Member states
Term length
Four years, renewable
Formation
24 March 1952; 73 years ago (1952-03-24)
First holder
Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
Deputy
Deputy Secretary General
Website
Office of the Secretary General

Tables

· List of officeholders
1
1
No.
1
Secretary General
Ismay, HastingsGeneralHastings Ismay1st Baron Ismay(1887–1965)
Took office
24 March 1952
Left office
16 May 1957
Time in office
5 years, 53 days
Previous office
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
Country of origin
United Kingdom
2
2
No.
2
Secretary General
Spaak, Paul-HenriPaul-Henri Spaak(1899–1972)
Took office
16 May 1957
Left office
21 April 1961
Time in office
3 years, 340 days
Previous office
Prime Minister of Belgium
Country of origin
Belgium
3
3
No.
3
Secretary General
Stikker, DirkDirk Stikker(1897–1979)
Took office
21 April 1961
Left office
1 August 1964
Time in office
3 years, 102 days
Previous office
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Country of origin
Netherlands
4
4
No.
4
Secretary General
Brosio, ManlioManlio Brosio(1897–1980)
Took office
1 August 1964
Left office
1 October 1971
Time in office
7 years, 61 days
Previous office
Ambassador to the United Kingdom
Country of origin
Italy
5
5
No.
5
Secretary General
Luns, JosephJoseph Luns(1911–2002)
Took office
1 October 1971
Left office
25 June 1984
Time in office
12 years, 268 days
Previous office
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Country of origin
Netherlands
6
6
No.
6
Secretary General
Carrington, PeterPeter Carington6th Baron Carrington(1919–2018)
Took office
25 June 1984
Left office
1 July 1988
Time in office
4 years, 6 days
Previous office
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Country of origin
United Kingdom
7
7
No.
7
Secretary General
Wörner, ManfredManfred Wörner(1934–1994)
Took office
1 July 1988
Left office
13 August 1994 †
Time in office
6 years, 43 days
Previous office
Minister of Defence
Country of origin
Germany
–
–
No.
–
Secretary General
Balanzino, SergioSergio Balanzino(1934–2018)Acting
Took office
13 August 1994
Left office
17 October 1994
Time in office
65 days
Previous office
Deputy SecretaryGeneral of NATO
Country of origin
Italy
8
8
No.
8
Secretary General
Claes, WillyWilly Claes(born 1938)
Took office
17 October 1994
Left office
20 October 1995
Time in office
1 year, 3 days
Previous office
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Country of origin
Belgium
–
–
No.
–
Secretary General
Balanzino, SergioSergio Balanzino(1934–2018)Acting
Took office
20 October 1995
Left office
5 December 1995
Time in office
46 days
Previous office
Deputy Secretary General of NATO
Country of origin
Italy
9
9
No.
9
Secretary General
Solana, JavierJavier Solana(born 1942)
Took office
5 December 1995
Left office
14 October 1999
Time in office
3 years, 313 days
Previous office
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Country of origin
Spain
10
10
No.
10
Secretary General
Robertson, GeorgeGeorge RobertsonBaron Robertson of Port Ellen(born 1946)
Took office
14 October 1999
Left office
17 December 2003
Time in office
4 years, 64 days
Previous office
Secretary of State for Defence
Country of origin
United Kingdom
–
–
No.
–
Secretary General
Minuto-Rizzo, AlessandroAlessandro Minuto-Rizzo(born 1940)Acting
Took office
17 December 2003
Left office
1 January 2004
Time in office
15 days
Previous office
Deputy Secretary General of NATO
Country of origin
Italy
11
11
No.
11
Secretary General
Scheffer, Jaap de HoopJaap de Hoop Scheffer(born 1948)
Took office
1 January 2004
Left office
1 August 2009
Time in office
5 years, 212 days
Previous office
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Country of origin
Netherlands
12
12
No.
12
Secretary General
Rasmussen, Anders FoghAnders Fogh Rasmussen(born 1953)
Took office
1 August 2009
Left office
1 October 2014
Time in office
5 years, 61 days
Previous office
Prime Minister of Denmark
Country of origin
Denmark
13
13
No.
13
Secretary General
Stoltenberg, JensJens Stoltenberg(born 1959)
Took office
1 October 2014
Left office
1 October 2024
Time in office
10 years, 0 days
Previous office
Prime Minister of Norway
Country of origin
Norway
14
14
No.
14
Secretary General
Rutte, MarkMark Rutte(born 1967)
Took office
1 October 2024
Left office
Incumbent
Time in office
1 year, 70 days
Previous office
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Country of origin
Netherlands
No.
Portrait
Secretary General
Took office
Left office
Time in office
Previous office
Country of origin
1
Ismay, HastingsGeneralHastings Ismay1st Baron Ismay(1887–1965)
24 March 1952
16 May 1957
5 years, 53 days
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
United Kingdom
2
Spaak, Paul-HenriPaul-Henri Spaak(1899–1972)
16 May 1957
21 April 1961
3 years, 340 days
Prime Minister of Belgium
Belgium
3
Stikker, DirkDirk Stikker(1897–1979)
21 April 1961
1 August 1964
3 years, 102 days
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Netherlands
4
Brosio, ManlioManlio Brosio(1897–1980)
1 August 1964
1 October 1971
7 years, 61 days
Ambassador to the United Kingdom
Italy
5
Luns, JosephJoseph Luns(1911–2002)
1 October 1971
25 June 1984
12 years, 268 days
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Netherlands
6
Carrington, PeterPeter Carington6th Baron Carrington(1919–2018)
25 June 1984
1 July 1988
4 years, 6 days
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
United Kingdom
7
Wörner, ManfredManfred Wörner(1934–1994)
1 July 1988
13 August 1994 †
6 years, 43 days
Minister of Defence
Germany
–
Balanzino, SergioSergio Balanzino(1934–2018)Acting
13 August 1994
17 October 1994
65 days
Deputy SecretaryGeneral of NATO
Italy
8
Claes, WillyWilly Claes(born 1938)
17 October 1994
20 October 1995
1 year, 3 days
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Belgium
–
Balanzino, SergioSergio Balanzino(1934–2018)Acting
20 October 1995
5 December 1995
46 days
Deputy Secretary General of NATO
Italy
9
Solana, JavierJavier Solana(born 1942)
5 December 1995
14 October 1999
3 years, 313 days
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Spain
10
Robertson, GeorgeGeorge RobertsonBaron Robertson of Port Ellen(born 1946)
14 October 1999
17 December 2003
4 years, 64 days
Secretary of State for Defence
United Kingdom
–
Minuto-Rizzo, AlessandroAlessandro Minuto-Rizzo(born 1940)Acting
17 December 2003
1 January 2004
15 days
Deputy Secretary General of NATO
Italy
11
Scheffer, Jaap de HoopJaap de Hoop Scheffer(born 1948)
1 January 2004
1 August 2009
5 years, 212 days
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Netherlands
12
Rasmussen, Anders FoghAnders Fogh Rasmussen(born 1953)
1 August 2009
1 October 2014
5 years, 61 days
Prime Minister of Denmark
Denmark
13
Stoltenberg, JensJens Stoltenberg(born 1959)
1 October 2014
1 October 2024
10 years, 0 days
Prime Minister of Norway
Norway
14
Rutte, MarkMark Rutte(born 1967)
1 October 2024
Incumbent
1 year, 70 days
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Netherlands
List of deputy secretaries general of NATO[30] · Deputy Secretary General
Jonkheer van Vredenburch
Jonkheer van Vredenburch
#
1
Name
Jonkheer van Vredenburch
Country
Netherlands
Duration
1952–1956
Baron Adolph Bentinck
Baron Adolph Bentinck
#
2
Name
Baron Adolph Bentinck
Country
1956–1958
Alberico Casardi
Alberico Casardi
#
3
Name
Alberico Casardi
Country
Italy
Duration
1958–1962
Guido Colonna di Paliano
Guido Colonna di Paliano
#
4
Name
Guido Colonna di Paliano
Country
1962–1964
James A. Roberts
James A. Roberts
#
5
Name
James A. Roberts
Country
Canada
Duration
1964–1968
Osman Esim Olcay
Osman Esim Olcay
#
6
Name
Osman Esim Olcay
Country
Turkey
Duration
1969–1971
Paolo Pansa Cedronio
Paolo Pansa Cedronio
#
7
Name
Paolo Pansa Cedronio
Country
Italy
Duration
1971–1978
Rinaldo Petrignani
Rinaldo Petrignani
#
8
Name
Rinaldo Petrignani
Country
1978–1981
Eric da Rin
Eric da Rin
#
9
Name
Eric da Rin
Country
1981–1985
Marcello Guidi
Marcello Guidi
#
10
Name
Marcello Guidi
Country
1985–1989
Amedeo de Franchis
Amedeo de Franchis
#
11
Name
Amedeo de Franchis
Country
1989–1994
Sergio Balanzino
Sergio Balanzino
#
12
Name
Sergio Balanzino
Country
1994–2001
Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo
Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo
#
13
Name
Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo
Country
2001–2007
Claudio Bisogniero
Claudio Bisogniero
#
14
Name
Claudio Bisogniero
Country
2007–2012
Alexander Vershbow
Alexander Vershbow
#
15
Name
Alexander Vershbow
Country
United States
Duration
2012–2016
Rose Gottemoeller
Rose Gottemoeller
#
16
Name
Rose Gottemoeller
Country
2016–2019
Mircea Geoană
Mircea Geoană
#
17
Name
Mircea Geoană
Country
Romania
Duration
2019–2024
Radmila Šekerinska
Radmila Šekerinska
#
18
Name
Radmila Šekerinska
Country
North Macedonia
Duration
2024–
#
Name
Country
Duration
1
Jonkheer van Vredenburch
Netherlands
1952–1956
2
Baron Adolph Bentinck
1956–1958
3
Alberico Casardi
Italy
1958–1962
4
Guido Colonna di Paliano
1962–1964
5
James A. Roberts
Canada
1964–1968
6
Osman Esim Olcay
Turkey
1969–1971
7
Paolo Pansa Cedronio
Italy
1971–1978
8
Rinaldo Petrignani
1978–1981
9
Eric da Rin
1981–1985
10
Marcello Guidi
1985–1989
11
Amedeo de Franchis
1989–1994
12
Sergio Balanzino
1994–2001
13
Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo
2001–2007
14
Claudio Bisogniero
2007–2012
15
Alexander Vershbow
United States
2012–2016
16
Rose Gottemoeller
2016–2019
17
Mircea Geoană
Romania
2019–2024
18
Radmila Šekerinska
North Macedonia
2024–

References

  1. Stikker resigned from his position a year early due to poor health.
  2. Wörner died in office on 13 August 1994 of cancer. The Deputy Secretary General, Sergio Balanzino, took over his daily r
  3. Claes resigned as Secretary General after a bribery scandal, centering on his actions in the Belgian cabinet in the 1980
  4. George Robertson announced in January 2003 that he would be stepping down in December. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was selecte
  5. Scheffer was named Secretary General of NATO effective 1 January 2004, but he did not take office until 5 January 2004.
  6. NATO Secretary General, NATO.
    http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_50094.htm
  7. Financial Times
    https://www.ft.com/content/3bcf9483-324a-492e-b1e4-e0bdf38b2f11
  8. "The North Atlantic Treaty"
    http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm
  9. "NATO-The first 5 years 1949-1954"
    http://archives.nato.int/nato-first-5-years-1949-1954-by-lord-ismay-secretary-general-of-north-atlantic-treaty-organization;isad
  10. Ismay, p. 28
  11. NATO Final Communiques 1949-1974
  12. Ismay, p. 31
  13. Ismay, p. 37
  14. Ismay, p. 41
  15. Ismay, p.44
  16. Ismay, p.46
  17. Ismay, p. 48
  18. "Resolution on the Appointement of Lord Ismay"
    https://archives.nato.int/resolution-on-appointement-of-lord-ismay-as-vice-chairman-of-north-atlantic-council-and-secretary-general-of-nato;isad
  19. The New York Times
  20. Fedder, p. 10
  21. Brosio, p. 39
  22. The Washington Post
  23. NATO Final Communiques 1949-1974
  24. The Washington Post
  25. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hunt-is-on-to-find-new-nato-chief-1383606.html
  26. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/21/world/facing-charges-nato-head-steps-down.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/E/Ethics&scp=2&sq=willy%20claes%20resign&st=cse
  27. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/23/world/nato-secretary-general-to-leave-his-post-in-december-after-4-years.html?scp=2&sq=lord+robertson&st=nyt
  28. Newsmakers
  29. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/23/world/nato-names-a-dutchman-to-be-its-secretary-general.html?scp=1&sq=jaap+de+hoop+scheffer&st=nyt
  30. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/18/world/world-briefing-europe-nato-chief-steps-down.html?scp=4&sq=jaap+de+hoop+scheffer&st=nyt
  31. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/06/world/world-briefing-europe-new-nato-chief-takes-over.html?sec=&spon=&scp=1&sq=New%20NATO%20Chief%20takes%20over&st=cse
  32. www.nato.int
    http://www.nato.int/docu/handbook/2001/hb1003.htm
  33. "Ankara Debates Rasmussen's Candidacy for NATO Secretary-General"
    http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34763&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=61bae24c58
  34. "NATO Secretary General: How is he or she selected and for how long"
    http://www.nato.int/issues/secgen/selection.html
  35. "NATO Who's who? – Deputy Secretaries General of NATO"
    http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/who_is_who_62218.htm
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