He was appointed Secretary -General in 2014, under US President Barack Obama and with the support of then German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The former Norway’s prime minister remained at this post for ten years until 2024, when Dutch Mark Rutte was succeeded.
These ten years, marked by its arrival in the US Presidency, the departure of their troops from Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, are described in detail in his book “On My Watch”, which will be released next week – recorded by meticulous documentation and meticulous documentation, His term at the NATO helm.
A few days ago, the French Monde published a very characteristic excerpt from the book, in which Stoltenberg narrates the backdrop of a 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, in which Trump, who then had his first US president, was in the US president, Merkel. The former General Secretary describes how the alliance was closer to a crisis “that could even lead to its dissolution”.
“This is the end … NATO was in danger”
“Trump arrived late and immediately attacked European allies:” I have to do an official protest … The US pays 90% of NATO costs … and NATO is more important to Europe than for us, “he says and continues to explain that his tuna Immediately Germany’s defense spending at 2% of GDP. “I saw you have the surplus,” he told her. “I borrow to protect you, while you save me by based on me.”
Then Trump allegedly began to list Member States’ contributions, “as if announcing the results of Eurovision,” as Stoltenberg writes: “Belgium: 0.9. Less than 1%.
Croatia: Oh, I’m so frustrated, I can’t believe it: 1.26%.
“You have to feel awful,” he said, looking around for that spokesman.
“Estonia: 2%. Thanks!
France: 1.79%. Not bad, Emmanuel (Macron). Not bad for you. You are not president for a long time.
Germany: 1.2%. Come on, Angela! At last!
Luxembourg, you who are you so good, where are you? 0.46%. I’m not talking to you anymore. But it doesn’t matter. My wife considers you a good kid, ”he said to Prime Minister Xavier Betel.
He continued: “Poland: 1.99%. Let’s say 2. You went well. Thanks, Poland, wherever you are.
Slovenia: Less than 1%. It doesn’t surprise me. I know my wife (Melania Trump, Slovenian descent), I know where the money is going.
‘Erdogan can say he wants’
Then it was Turkey’s turn: the good with Turkey is that Erdogan can say whatever he wants, no one controls him. When he got 61% in the election, I told him: Why don’t you say 80%? It sounds better.
United Kingdom: 2.1%. Thanks. Very well. USA: 4.2% of the largest GDP of all. So, tell us idiots if you want. “
The threat of Trump to exit NATO
Then, in a dramatic aversion, Trump openly threatened with the US withdrawal from the alliance, and according to Stoltenberg, the US delegation had already prepared the suitcases to leave the session.
The former NATO chief writes for the moment: “This is the end, I thought. I looked around around the room. Everyone was alert, some pushing their headphones louder to listen better, others closer to Trump, had taken them out to hear his words directly. Everyone realized that the situation was out of control and that the meeting, along with all the consent statements, was in danger of being dissolved. And with them, NATO was in danger. “
All the leaders had agreed at the beginning of 2% of GDP for defense spending, but the disagreement with the US concerned the timetable: Trump wanted this goal to be achieved this year, while the others were targeting 2024 – the deadline already approved.
Merkel and Macron began to explain that this is not a realistic immediate goal, as such a significant increase in defense expenditure will have to go through their parliaments.
Then, “Trump pulled out his black marker who never left, wrote a few words on a piece of paper and leaned towards me to give it to me. His writing, by the way, was quite elegant. He wrote: “Mr General Secretary, if you can say that NATO allies have significantly increased their defense spending thanks to me, then I think we can reach an agreement,” says Stoltenberg, who then agreed, believing that a gold was found.
But before the end of the meeting, Danish Prime Minister Lars Locke Rasmussen spoke, despite Stoltenberg’s attempt to close the debate. Looking at Trump, he allegedly said:
“Our contribution is not just economic. It is both blood and sacrifices. We are five million people in Denmark. We lost 45 soldiers in Afghanistan, a mission that started to defend the US. “
‘NATO could stop working’
Stoltenberg notes that the room was silent, and even Trump remained silent.
Finally, at the press conference after the meeting, he said that NATO member states have significantly increased their defense spending thanks to President Trump’s leadership and his clear appeals while at the same time, all member states confirm their commitment to alliance and Article 5.
“That day I realized that NATO could stop working. It would not necessarily be a formal dismantling, but it would lose all credibility, “Stoltenberg writes in his book.
“If Trump had threatened to leave in protest, NATO would have been at risk of splitting … I think he realized that the significant increases were not immediately feasible, but what we had seen was perhaps a good example of his negotiating tactics: Excerpt published on Monde on this hectic day.
Seven years after that meeting in Brussels, all members now meet their 2%target. Since Stoltenberg resigned in November 2024, Trump, who returned to power last January, has further reshaped NATO’s expectations for defense spending, pressing leaders at the June 20th summit in Hagi.
