Stoltenberg, who served as NATO chief from 2014 to 2024 and is now Norway’s finance minister, received the honour during the Warsaw Security Forum, a gathering of nearly 2,500 leaders from 90 countries.
The award, presented by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, a Warsaw think tank, goes to individuals who have made significant contributions to defending freedom and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe.
In his acceptance speech, Stoltenberg called for "credible collective defense" and sustained support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion as well as continued "joint efforts to defend our free and democratic societies."
Former US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised Stoltenberg for keeping NATO united during his time as secretary-general.
"Thanks to people like Jens Stoltenberg, we never forget our democratic values," Austin said.
Admiral Rob Bauer, former chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, said: "There are people who happen to be in the room where it happens. And there are people who make it happen. You, my friend, are the latter."
Stoltenberg was succeeded last year as NATO chief by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
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Source: Warsaw Security Forum, pulaski.pl