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Top Latvian diplomat looking at running for NATO chief – agency

Election due to take place in 2024

VILNIUS, November 19. /TASS/. Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins wants to vie for the office of the NATO secretary general in 2024 to succeed Jens Stoltenberg, Bloomberg said on Sunday.

"Provided Latvia would decide to stand for the candidacy of the Secretary General, Dr. Krisjanis Karins is ready to join the competition," the agency cited Karins’ spokesperson. Karins would offer "to contribute to the alliance with his leadership experience as prime minister, clear understanding of Russia’s threat, strong stance on Ukraine, and proven track record as an international consensus builder," according to the spokesperson.

On July 4, Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that he would continue as NATO secretary general until October 1, 2024. This decision was approved by the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11-12. According to the mass media, the reason was that NATO member states were unable to agree on nominating Stoltenberg’s successor. The secretary general is appointed by a consensus decision of all NATO member states.

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