Sources close to the Munich Security Conference (MSC) continue to anticipate that former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will assume leadership of the organization. Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the MSC’s Board of Trustees, confirmed this expectation in a recent interview with the “Berlin Playbook” podcast, stating that Stoltenberg remains committed to taking on the role in either Munich or Berlin.
Ischinger expressed enthusiasm regarding Stoltenberg’s potential arrival and indicated that the MSC team is looking forward to welcoming him. However, he refrained from providing a precise timeline for the transition, citing ongoing governmental commitments in Norway that are currently preventing Stoltenberg’s immediate availability.
While acknowledging the uncertainties surrounding the schedule, Ischinger suggested that the timeframe could span weeks, months, or even longer. Currently, Stoltenberg continues to serve as Norway’s Finance Minister following the country’s parliamentary elections in September. The prospect of Stoltenberg’s involvement had previously been cast into question by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which reported that the German government believed he would not be available for the position. The MSC is awaiting further clarity on the specific timeline for Stoltenberg’s transition.