General Jens Stoltenberg has returned to government in his native Norway as finance minister, months before a national election.

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg became Norway's new finance minister on Tuesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle, taking up the post as the Nordic country eyes the impact of a potential transatlantic trade war.

Jens Stoltenberg, Norway's new finance minister and former NATO chief, aims to engage with the Trump administration to avoid tariffs amid potential trade tensions. His leadership could rejuvenate Norway's Labour government in polls.

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s former secretary-general, is to make a surprise return to the frontline of Norwegian politics as finance minister, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Nordic country frets about being caught in the middle of a US-EU trade war.

Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg was named Norway’s new finance minister on Tuesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle, stepping into the role at a time when the Nordic nation is concerned about the pot

From 2000 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2013, Jens Stoltenberg was Norway's prime minister. In 2014, the Norwegian politician became secretary general of NATO, which he remained for exactly 10 years. Now he is returning to Norwegian politics.