Lobjakas told uudised.err.ee on Friday that naming former Norwegian prime minister Stoltenberg as the next secretary general could be seen as a nod to Nordic countries Sweden and Finland that are not members but have close ties with the alliance.

“Stoltenberg’s name was on the report on enhancing regional defense co-operation, commissioned by the foreign ministers of five Nordic countries in 2008. It could be assumed that if Finland and Sweden are ever going to join NATO - and the public opinion is becoming positive towards the option - a Norwegian secretary general would be an almost ideal mediator,” Lobjakas said.

He added that enhanced defense co-operation between Nordic NATO members and Nordic non-members is one of the most important national interests of Estonia.

“One could say that Stoltenberg is the closest thing to an Eastern European secretary general of NATO - Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski would have been it,” Lobjakas said.

He also highlighted the fact that Norway shares a border with Russia and is also an Arctic country - a region where NATO’s interest also clashes with Russia.

According to Lobjakas, Stoltenberg continues the tradition of the secretary general having experience as prime minister - Stoltenberg successfully headed the Norwegian government for 10 years.

“His main role is to offer diplomatic leadership to the alliance, but the last two secretaries have put a somewhat narcissistic emphasis on the public side of this diplomacy at the expense of behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Perhaps the fact that Rasmussen’s successor was named already six months before his term ends indicates a certain discontenct with him,” Lobjakas said.