US President Joe Biden honored NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the nation’s highest civilian honor during remarks commemorating the alliance’s 75th anniversary.
On Tuesday night, July 9, Biden surprised the Norwegian diplomat with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony marking the beginning of this week’s NATO summit.
“So much of the progress we made in the alliance is thanks to the secretary – he’s a man of integrity and intellectual rigor, calm temperament in a moment of crisis, a consummate diplomat who works with leaders across the political spectrum and always finds a way to keep his moving forward,” Biden said.
In 2023, Biden requested Stoltenberg to extend his tenure as NATO secretary general by an additional year due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The former Norwegian prime minister has held the position since 2014. Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was formally appointed as the next NATO secretary general in late June and will assume the role on October 1.
“I realized – I was talking to your wife, I personally asked you to extend your service, forgive me, that you put your own plans on hold. When the Russian war in Ukraine began, you didn’t hesitate,” Biden told Stoltenberg Tuesday.
“Today, NATO is stronger, smarter, more energized than when you began. A billion people across Europe and North America – indeed the whole world – will reap the rewards of your labor for years to come.”
Biden, who himself received the medal while serving as vice president under Barack Obama, most recently bestowed the Medal of Freedom on 19 Americans recognized for their achievements in athletics, politics, and civil rights over the decades.
During his own speech earlier at the event, Stoltenberg urged alliance members to continue supporting Ukraine.
“Our alliance was created by people who had lived through two devastating world wars,” Stoltenberg said. “They knew only too well the horror, the suffering, and the terrible human cost of war.”
“Russia’s war against Ukraine is the biggest security crisis in generations,” he said. “Ukraine has shown remarkable courage and NATO allies have provided unprecedented support.”
“The reality is there are no cost-free options with an aggressive Russia as a neighbor. There are no risk-free options in a war,” he said. “Remember – the biggest cost and the greatest risk will be if Russia wins in Ukraine. We cannot let that happen.”
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