section_path: NATO Secretary General (2014–2024)/2024
section_name: 2024
paragraph_text: 2024
  
  In February 2024, Stoltenberg warned that NATO member states have to prepare for a confrontation with Russia "that could last decades". He said that the best defense tools against Russia are an increase in arms supplies to Ukraine and an increase in NATO's military capabilities.
  
  In February, Stoltenberg criticized Donald Trump 's statement that he would "encourage" Russia to attack NATO member countries that don't pay their "fair share" of defense funding, stating that any attack on the military alliance would be met with a "united and forceful response".
  
  In May, Stoltenberg called on NATO member states to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Responding to Stoltenberg's statement, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that it is "wrong to increase tension" in an already "dramatic" situation and emphasised the need to "leave open the possibility of negotiating an immediate truce and initiating peace talks in the coming months."
  
  Asked about China's military aid to Russia, Stoltenberg said that "Russia would not have been able to conduct the war of aggression against Ukraine without the support from China." He warned that "China cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to have normal trade relationships with countries in Europe and at the same time fuel the biggest war we have seen in Europe since the Second World War."
  
  "I know I am leaving NATO in good hands."
  
  On 9 July 2024, Stoltenberg was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States, from United States President Joe Biden for his services to NATO during the Russo-Ukrainian war. This award was given at the NATO Summit in Washington, DC.
  
  On 30 July 2024, King Felipe VI of Spain appointed Stoltenberg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit.
  
  In an interview in September 2024, Stoltenberg was asked What could have been done differently, what should have been done, to prevent Russia from going to war against Ukraine?
  
  He answered that he regrets that NATO allies and NATO itself did not do more to strengthen Ukraine before Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Potentially, the threshold for Russia to attack would have been higher if Ukraine had been militarily stronger. The USA, Canada and the UK trained Ukrainian soldiers in a training center in Ukraine, but NATO did not. NATO could have given much more training and equipment.
  
  On 18 June, it was announced Hungary and Slovakia had agreed to allow outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to succeed Stoltenberg as Secretary General. He was officially selected by the North Atlantic Council on 26 June, and succeeded Stoltenberg on 1 October.