NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stands in front of a Leopard tank of the Polish Army | Sean Gallup/Getty Images NATO allies extend Stoltenberg’s term as secretary-general Alliance’s political leader has the confidence of Washington and European capitals.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is not obsolete.

The 29 allied countries on Thursday extended Stoltenberg's term as NATO's top political official for two more years, until September 30, 2022, ensuring a measure of stability at a time of tension in transatlantic relations and apprehension over Russia's military assertiveness.

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, was scheduled to complete the more traditional four-year term in 2020. And the decision by allies to extend his mandate underscored the confidence he enjoys in the capitals of the major powers — Washington, Berlin, London and Paris.

With an unshakably cool demeanor, and a seemingly supernatural ability to stick to his talking points under virtually any circumstances, Stoltenberg has helped steer NATO through more than two years of tensions largely caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's initial skepticism about the alliance' usefulness, and his repeated bashing of European allies for not spending more on defense.

Trump, as president-elect, derided the alliance obsolete. But Stoltenberg repeatedly delivered assurances that allies were increasing their military expenditures and working toward a previously agreed-upon goal of spending 2 percent of GDP per year on defense.

Stoltenberg has also presided over efforts by the alliance to upgrade and enhance capabilities

And it was on a visit by Stoltenberg to Washington in April 2017 that Trump, standing side by side with the secretary-general during a televised news conference, declared: "It's no longer obsolete."

Stoltenberg has repeatedly stepped in to avoid blow-ups, including at a leaders' summit in July 2018 where Trump threatened to pull out of the alliance, saying the U.S. could "go our own way."

Earlier this year, with allies fearing that Trump might again attack NATO in his State of the Union speech, Stoltenberg went to Washington and gave an interview on Fox News, Trump's favorite channel, crediting the president's advocacy with helping to increase allies' military spending by $100 billion.

Trump incorporated the secretary-general's points in his speech. "We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share," Trump said. "For years, the United States was being treated very unfairly by NATO — but now we have secured a $100 billion increase in defense spending from NATO allies," he said.

Stoltenberg has also presided over efforts by the alliance to upgrade and enhance capabilities, particularly in response to a renewed threat by Russia after its invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. These efforts have included a program known as its Four Thirties Readiness Initiative by which the alliance wants to be sure that 30 combat ships, 30 land battalions, and 30 air squadrons, are ready to deploy within 30 days or less.

In a tweet, Stoltenberg said he was honored by the extension of his term, which was approved on Thursday by the North Atlantic Council, NATO's senior political body.

Honoured by the decision by the #NATO Allies to extend my term as Secretary General until 30 September 2022. Together we will continue to adapt & modernise our Alliance to keep it fit for the future: https://t.co/ybBwSDOy6z pic.twitter.com/K5CIiqRYjl — Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 28, 2019