British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday, March 26, he backs former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to take over the leadership of NATO later this year, throwing his weight behind the front runner to lead the Western military alliance, Reuters reports.

"I think Jens Stoltenberg would be an excellent candidate, I've worked very closely with him and I think it would be very good to have such a candidate who has filled such a high office in his own country," Cameron told parliament, when asked about Stoltenberg's candidacy.

Several diplomats told Reuters earlier this week that Stoltenberg, who served for a total of nearly 10 years as Norway's Prime Minister before losing power in elections last September, has the backing of the United States, NATO's dominant power, and Germany. A number of other countries were also rallying around his candidacy.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is due to step down later this year.