Norway's former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has been named the new NATO secretary-general.
Stoltenberg's appointment Friday was not a surprise as he was reported to have the support of the United States, Germany, Britain and France.
A statement from NATO said Stoltenberg will assume his functions as secretary-general as October 1, when Anders Fogh Rasmussen's term expires after five years and two months at the helm of the alliance.
Rasmussen said Stoltenberg was "the right man to build on NATO's record of strength and success."
After the official announcement, Stoltenberg said NATO was an important alliance for its members, especially "in recent weeks with the dramatic events in Ukraine and Crimea."
Stoltenberg's appointment Friday was not a surprise as he was reported to have the support of the United States, Germany, Britain and France.
A statement from NATO said Stoltenberg will assume his functions as secretary-general as October 1, when Anders Fogh Rasmussen's term expires after five years and two months at the helm of the alliance.
Rasmussen said Stoltenberg was "the right man to build on NATO's record of strength and success."
After the official announcement, Stoltenberg said NATO was an important alliance for its members, especially "in recent weeks with the dramatic events in Ukraine and Crimea."