On My Watch

JENS STOLTENBERG OFFERS AN HONEST AND CANDID ACCOUNT OF A DRAMATIC DECADE AS THE LEADER OF NATO.

When Stoltenberg took office as Secretary General of NATO in 2014, the world was already changing. What followed was a decade marked by war, diplomatic crises, and decisions that helped shape our shared security.

This book takes readers behind closed doors and offers a rare insight into how the world’s most powerful military alliance handles crises. Stoltenberg describes the effort to keep NATO united, and addresses key issues such as the war in Ukraine, NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, relations with Russia and China, and cooperation with world leaders like Angela Merkel, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

This is not a book about division. It is a story of unity, of friendship – and of why NATO still matters. Through reflections on disagreement and difficult dilemmas, Stoltenberg shows why openness is essential to preserve cohesion – and to face the challenges of tomorrow.

On My Watch offers a unique insight into the art of diplomacy and the hard choices that must be made when global peace is at stake.

Reviews

From On My Watch:

One day in mid-October, a NATO intelligence officer requested a confidential conversation. He came into my office, and after ensuring all phones were out of the room as usual, we sat down at the meeting table. The intelligence officer then showed me a map of the Russian forces.

“As you know, Secretary General,” he said, “we’ve maintained a precise overview of the Russian military buildup, but we’ve so far been unable to say anything certain about the intention behind it.”

He took a brief pause, lifted his eyes from his notes, and looked at me, his expression serious.

“Today, however, we know what the intention is. It’s to invade Ukraine.”

About the author

Jens Stoltenberg (b. 1959) is a Norwegian politician and economist. He was Norway's Prime Minister for two periods (2000-2001, 2005-2013) for the Labour Party and Secretary General of NATO from 2014 to 2024 – a period marked by major global security policy challenges. Stoltenberg became known for his pragmatic approach, diplomatic skills, and ability to build bridges between different allies.