Secretary-General of NATO Avoids Commenting on Biden's Health Status

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg avoided addressing concerns about President Joe Biden’s health when questioned about the issue over the weekend. CBS News reporter Robert Costa pressed Stoltenberg on this topic during an interview on “Face The Nation” following Biden’s dismal debate performance a week and a half ago.

Key points to consider:

• Stoltenberg emphasized NATO’s focus on maintaining strong U.S. leadership and preparing for important defense decisions, rather than engaging in U.S. domestic debates.

• The Secretary-General highlighted the alliance’s 75th anniversary and the substantial increase in defense spending by European allies as critical topics for the upcoming NATO summit.

• Costa’s questions reflect broader concerns about Biden’s ability to lead effectively, particularly among international allies.

When asked for his "real take" on how NATO leaders privately assess President Biden, Stoltenberg sidestepped, saying, “I’m absolutely confident that, when all NATO leaders convene here this week, it will be a great summit.” He underscored recent productive meetings with Biden, where they discussed defense, support for Ukraine, and burden-sharing.

Stoltenberg reiterated the importance of U.S. leadership in NATO, but when pressed further on NATO leaders' thoughts about Biden’s health, he maintained, “If I started to comment on issues like that, then, suddenly, NATO, I will be part of domestic debate.” He stressed that NATO should remain above domestic political issues, focusing instead on collective decisions and actions.

The Secretary-General pointed out significant progress in defense spending among NATO allies, mentioning that when a pledge was made 10 years ago to increase defense spending, only three allies met the 2 percent GDP target. This year, 23 allies have achieved this goal, marking an 18 percent increase across Europe and Canada.

Stoltenberg’s reluctance to address concerns about Biden’s health directly reflects the delicate balance NATO must maintain between supporting U.S. leadership and avoiding entanglement in American domestic politics.

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