NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg intends to leave his post in October this year, his spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told a number of media outlets, including Spiegel.

He has no intention of seeking a further extension of his mandate, Lungescu said Sunday night.

Stoltenberg's mandate has already been extended three times, and he has led the alliance for nearly nine years.

Recently, there have been speculations that the 63-year-old Stoltenberg's mandate could be extended this year, too, amid Russia's war against Ukraine - until April 2024 .

The former Norwegian prime minister wanted to leave his post last year and return to his home country to head the central bank.