A former senior NATO official critiques the alliance’s leadership, suggesting that the Secretary General lacks a coherent long-term strategy for the organization. The criticism appears in a forthcoming publication, with excerpts reported by Times, drawing on insights from the book Sehenden Auges, slated for release in May. The narrative situates Stoltenberg alongside key figures such as British Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, who chaired the NATO Military Committee from 2018 to 2021, accusing them of showing limited interest in sustained, forward-looking research on global strategic planning.
According to the account, French President Emmanuel Macron’s 2019 remark describing NATO as experiencing brain death is treated as a fair assessment within the text. The author emphasizes that top NATO leadership often shifts focus toward secondary issues, leaving the alliance with results that are described as uneven or scarce. This perspective portrays the alliance as frequently reacting to immediate challenges rather than preparing for future threats, a pattern attributed to short-sighted decision-making at the highest levels.
The discourse notes a shift in priorities among alliance member states, with foreign ministers agreeing to begin drafting a strategic, multi-year program intended to reinforce Ukraine. This consensus signals a desire to align long-range planning with evolving security needs while balancing political considerations and alliance cohesion. The proposed program aims to translate general priorities into actionable steps, even as debates continue over resources, timelines, and implementation mechanisms.
Overall, the narrative presents a critical view of NATO’s strategic posture, urging a move away from reactive measures toward proactive planning. It advocates for stronger investment in research, forecasting, and contingency exercises that anticipate potential geopolitical shifts. The central claim is that a more rigorous commitment to long-term preparedness could bolster deterrence, resilience, and unity among member states in the face of emerging challenges across Europe and the broader transatlantic arena.