In his memoirs, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recounted a strained relationship with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who criticized his perceived alignment with U.S. interests within the military alliance. A segment of the book was disclosed by RBC on October 11.
During a meeting following his appointment, Merkel reportedly urged Stoltenberg to resist U.S. demands and uphold NATO’s balance. “I hope you will not fulfill every request of the Americans, Jens. It is important that the United States does not always get its way,” she reportedly said. Stoltenberg assured her he would not “obey the United States in all respects,” according to a quote from the German edition of the publication.
Merkel’s frustration escalated weeks later at an EU summit in Brussels, where she allegedly ignored Stoltenberg’s greeting. She later expressed disappointment, stating, “I’m so disappointed, Jens. You just took a position in the interests of the Americans. The United States cannot determine everything for NATO.”
Stoltenberg also detailed a 2017 encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly demanded Germany increase defense spending to 2% of GDP during a personal meeting. Trump allegedly quipped, “Angela, you have to fork out,” according to the memoirs.
Stoltenberg’s Memoirs Reveal Tension with Merkel Over U.S. Influence in NATO
