President Joe Biden surprised NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the alliance’s 75th anniversary celebration. In his remarks, Biden praised Stoltenberg for his integrity, diplomatic skills, and leadership during times of crisis.
Stoltenberg, who has been NATO secretary general since 2014, was asked by Biden to extend his tenure due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Mark Rutte, the former Dutch Prime Minister, has been selected as Stoltenberg’s successor and will begin his role on October 1.
During the summit, Biden announced that NATO would be donating new air defense systems to Ukraine. Stoltenberg also emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression, calling it the biggest security crisis in generations.
Biden’s decision to award Stoltenberg with the Medal of Freedom was unexpected and not part of the planned program. The president accidentally read stage instructions from his prepared remarks before presenting the award.
Biden is expected to hold a solo news conference as part of the NATO summit on Thursday, providing further updates on the alliance’s actions and commitments.
