Stoltenberg’s tenure as finance minister remains uncertain
In a candid exchange with NTB, Norway’s finance minister and former NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said he does not have a crystal-clear view on how long he will remain in the finance portfolio. He stressed that the ultimate decision lies with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, noting that in politics one should aim for the long horizon yet be prepared for the possibility of leaving tomorrow.
“That’s how I’ve lived my political life, and that’s how I’m living it now,” Stoltenberg said. The tension between long-term planning and the need for contingency is a theme he has carried from his time as a public figure into his current role.
A year after stepping down from NATO
It has been a year since Stoltenberg stepped down as NATO secretary-general. Shortly after, he was announced as the head of the Munich Security Conference, a role he was slated to assume in February. When Støre invited him to return to the government, Stoltenberg agreed and received a temporary leave from the Munich assignment.
Today, he is still in dialogue with Munich about the position. He says, “I hope we can find a solution so that, when I one day leave as finance minister, there will still be a path back there.” The Munich folks have introduced interim arrangements, and Stoltenberg indicates he will discuss with them what can be done in the future.
International posts off the table, for now
Stoltenberg is clear about his long-term ambitions. He rules out returning to international top posts, stressing that Munich is important but not a full-time job and that he will not move to Munich. “I will live in Norway and commute,” he says, signaling his intention to remain rooted at home while contributing to national policy.
Domestic politics and the book launch
The timing of Stoltenberg’s finance ministry tenure has coincided with a surge in support for the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) after his entry into government. Even Prime Minister Støre admitted during the last party leader debate before the autumn election that Ap’s chances would be slimmer without Stoltenberg on the team. “But he was my recruitment. It was I who brought him,” Støre conceded.
Amid the budget cycle, Stoltenberg is preparing for his first budget presentation in this term. This week he’s also promoting his new book, a process that has been intensified with two days of foreign and domestic media interviews. He quips that if he weren’t finance minister, he would likely be on a book tour or doing book readings as many authors do; as it stands, the budget takes center stage and will shape his post-budget schedule.
Book manuscript, diary notes, and NATO nostalgia
The book — written over many years and partly shaped while he was in government — began taking form with an emphasis on documenting events in real time. Stoltenberg recalls using a tape recorder in the car on his way home from meetings, a practice that proved invaluable for capturing details that could be forgotten later. He handed in the manuscript just days before assuming the finance minister role, with only proofreading and minor edits remaining after the fact. The book discusses his meetings with world leaders, including former U.S. president Donald Trump, a topic that drew substantial attention in the media when previewed this week.
Looking ahead: no return to NATO, a long horizon at home
When asked whether he misses NATO or Brussels, Stoltenberg replies with a measured no. He says the past year has included a mix of longing for some colleagues and a relief at stepping away from the heavy responsibilities. “Ten years in a top international post is a long time, and regardless of when you end, the work continues,” he says, concluding that for now Mark Rutte — who has stepped into the leadership role in the European political landscape — is handling the present challenges well.
