Mark Rutte steps in as new NATO chief amid global tensions
11:29 AM EDT, June 21, 2024
Politico reported that outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will become the new NATO Secretary General. The politician had been vying for the position since November.
On Tuesday, Rutte received the support of Hungary and Slovakia. On Thursday, Romania also supported him after former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from the race for the NATO chief position.
Rutte will replace Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg. He will begin his tenure as Secretary General of the Alliance on October 2, slightly more than a month before the United States elections, which could dramatically change the balance of power. The Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, has announced, among other things, a reduction in support for Ukraine.
Can "Teflon Mark" manage?
The media highlights that "Teflon Mark" (as Rutte is humorously called due to his remarkable resilience to various scandals and crises) knows how to deal with Trump. He has stood up to him in the past, which positively surprised the then-U.S. president.
The position of NATO Secretary General is extremely challenging, especially considering the current developments related to, among other things, the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the war between Israel and Palestine.
Politico recalls that Rutte also had numerous missteps, such as supporting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Meanwhile, under his leadership, the Netherlands did not reach the required NATO defense spending level of 2% of GDP.
Mark Rutte has served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010. Known for his effectiveness and ability to forge political compromises, he gained trust not only domestically but also on the international stage. In July 2023, he unexpectedly announced his departure from national politics, sparking speculation about his future.
Outgoing Jens Stoltenberg assumed the role of NATO Secretary General on October 1, 2014. His tenure was full of challenges and significant international events, including the rise in tension between NATO and Russia and the strengthening of the Alliance's eastern flank.
