Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been appointed as the next Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), taking on a critical role while Europe is facing a significant security crisis due to the war in Ukraine.
On the 26th, AP reported that Rutte, who is planning to step down from his Prime Minister position in a few weeks, received support from all 32 member nations and will succeed current Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on October 1st.
His appointment comes after his competitor, Romanian Prime Minister Klaus Iohannis, withdrew from the candidacy and received support from major member countries such as the U.S. and Germany. Even Hungary and Turkey, who initially opposed him, shifted their stance to support Rutte due to his diplomatic skills.
Stoltenberg praised his successor on social media as a true Atlanticist, a strong leader, and a mediator, wishing him success.
Rutte faces the task of preparing NATO to counter the anticipated threat from Russia and the rising power of China.
Rutte, the longest-serving Dutch Prime Minister since 2010, is considered a safe choice by foreign media outlets in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
As the Dutch Prime Minister, Rutte has been praised as a dealmaker for resolving various crises of the European Union (EU), such as immigration policies.
He also led military support for Ukraine, including the provision of F-16 fighter jets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has even referred to Rutte as “my friend Mark”.
As the new Secretary-General, Rutte has to lead NATO amidst political uncertainties in Europe, including the French general elections, as well as the possibility of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election in the November elections.
Even whispering directly to Trump while persuading him on the NATO budget issue back in 2018, Rutte is well-regarded for his ability to communicate effectively with Trump and is thus expected to be a suitable Secretary-General for a potential second Trump term.
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