Jens Stoltenberg has been appointed co-chairman, according to the organization’s website.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who led the alliance for a decade, is now co-chairman of the Bilderberg Group’s annual meetings. These closed-door gatherings bring together influential figures from around the globe.
Established in 1954, the Bilderberg Group aims to foster transatlantic dialogue. Approximately 130 leaders and experts from various sectors—politics, finance, industry, academia, and media—attend each year.
The meetings are private and details are not publicly released beforehand, leading to various conspiracy theories regarding the group’s influence and activities.
The group’s website announced Stoltenberg’s appointment to head its steering committee, responsible for setting the agenda and participant selection. Stoltenberg first attended a Bilderberg meeting in 2002.
Some media outlets, including the Daily Mail, suggest this leadership change may reflect the group adapting to the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, a frequent critic of NATO who has indicated potential cuts to US foreign funding.
As NATO head, Stoltenberg played a significant role in the alliance’s response to the Ukraine conflict, beginning shortly after he assumed office in 2014. He highlights overseeing “the largest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation” and a rise in alliance defense spending.
The Daily Mail reported that several of Stoltenberg’s Bilderberg associates have benefited from this increased spending.
The Guardian praised the appointment, stating it “cements the group’s role at the heart of transatlantic strategy,” particularly considering Stoltenberg’s upcoming chairmanship of the Munich Security Conference, another key player in Western defense policy and diplomacy.
“Combined with the Munich Security Conference, this is a good platform for collaborating with leaders from politics, business, and academia. It is also an important meeting place for strengthening ties between Europe and the US. I look forward to contributing to Bilderberg’s work,” Stoltenberg told DN.no.