White House applauds extension of NATO chief's mandate

The White House on Wednesday applauded NATO's decision to extend by one year the mandate of Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

He can now remain in his post until July 31, 2014.

“The United States commends the Secretary General for his strong leadership of America’s most important security alliance,” National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement, “and we look forward to continuing to work with him and with our NATO allies and partners as we strengthen and revitalize NATO for the 21st century.”

Rasmussen, a former center-right prime minister of Denmark and a strong proponent of the war in Iraq, was offered NATO's top job in 2009 despite running into opposition from member state Turkey for his handling of the Danish cartoon controversy in 2005. At the time, he rejected a request by ambassadors from Muslim countries to meet about the issue.

Here's the full statement: 

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Tommy Vietor on Extension of NATO Secretary General Rasmussen's Tenure


President Obama welcomes the decision by all 28 NATO members to extend NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s tenure for an additional year, through 2014. The United States commends the Secretary General for his strong leadership of America’s most important security alliance, and we look forward to continuing to work with him and with our NATO allies and partners as we strengthen and revitalize NATO for the 21st century. For over 63 years, NATO has advanced freedom, security, and prosperity for the United States and its allies and partners. Secretary General Rasmussen will lead the Alliance to fulfill the commitments made at the Chicago Summit hosted by President Obama last May, which include completing transition, ending the war, and defining NATO’s long-term partnership with Afghanistan; reshaping alliance capabilities to realize the goals set forth in NATO Forces 2020; and advancing opportunities for global partners to cooperate with NATO.

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