Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister (PM) Mark Rutte has been appointed as the next secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a post he will assume in October.
NATO ambassadors confirmed the appointment at a meeting in their headquarters in Brussels, saying that Rutte will assume his function as the secretary-general beginning Oct. 1. Rutte is set to replace Jens Stoltenberg, whose 10-year term will expire on that day.
The outgoing Dutch PM who graduated with a degree in history from Leiden University was first elected in 2010. After 14 years in power, he resigned in July of last year after his four-party coalition fell apart over disagreements on how to curb migration. However, Rutte has taken on a caretaker PM role for the Netherlands until the new government set to replace him irons out matters on their end.
"The [NATO] alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security," Rutte said, adding that leading the group is a responsibility he does "not take lightly." The outgoing Dutch leader's NATO appointment took longer than expected, Euronews pointed out.
Throughout his tenure, Rutte has navigated numerous political challenges, including the 2021 child benefits scandal that collapsed his third coalition government. Despite this setback, he led his conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy to victory in the subsequent national elections and formed his fourth coalition.
Known for his casual and smiling manner, Rutte has earned the nickname "Teflon Mark" due to his ability to avoid scandals. He is the longest-serving prime minister in the Netherlands.
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Teflon Mark's leadership style has been widely appreciated by his colleagues in the European Union. Even German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised Rutte, stating: "Your experience, your security policy expertise and your diplomatic skills are in the right place."
Rutte to move from Amsterdam to Brussels
Starting in October, the 57-year-old Rutte will move to Brussels and leverage his extensive experience in leading four different governments to navigate NATO through a challenging geopolitical landscape, including the ongoing war at Europe's borders.
His only competitor, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, withdrew from the race about two weeks ago. Despite his seemingly aggressive stance on Russia, Rutte was considered the least aggressive successor to Stoltenberg.
His candidacy gained momentum when he secured support from Hungary's PM Viktor Orban despite tensions between them. The Hungarian leader initially resisted Rutte's appointment over several concerns, including the issue of spending Budapest's money on supporting Ukraine. But after assurances that NATO won't deploy Hungary's military or spend its funds on Kyiv, Budapest lifted its veto – demonstrating Rutte's adeptness in international relations.
Rutte, also a globalist, has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. This was one of the reasons he sought the NATO leadership role, and his commitment to assisting Ukraine has been evident in his actions and statements. He has played a significant role in Europe's military support for Kyiv emphasizing that defeating Moscow is crucial for peace in Europe. (Related: NATO offers Ukraine a new HQ in Germany – a "bridge" to Kyiv's eventual membership.)
In June, Rutte attended a Ukraine summit in Switzerland, where he promised continued Dutch support for Ukraine. Under his leadership, the Netherlands has pledged significant military hardware to Kyiv, including advanced air defense systems and artillery. Although the country previously fell short of the NATO target of spending two percent of its GDP on defense, it is expected to exceed this target this year, reaching 2.05 percent, up from around 1.2 percent a decade ago.
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