
On Tuesday, NATO's long-serving Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will step down, passing the baton to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Stoltenberg, who assumed office in 2014, oversaw a period marked by significant challenges for the military alliance.
During Stoltenberg's tenure, NATO faced the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the infiltration of 'little green men' into Ukraine. This event triggered a surge in defense spending among NATO members, with Stoltenberg playing a pivotal role in navigating the alliance through these turbulent times.