Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte became the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s next boss. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

NATO’s 32 nations on Wednesday appointed outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the alliance’s next head, handing him the job at a crucial moment with Russia on the march in Ukraine and U.S. elections looming.

Mr. Rutte will take over from Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on October 1 after major powers — spearheaded by the United States — wrapped up his nomination ahead of a summit of NATO leaders in Washington next month.

“Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder,” Mr. Stoltenberg said on social media after NATO ambassadors approved the appointment.

“I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he added.

Mr. Rutte said it was a “tremendous honour” to take over from Mr. Stoltenberg once his decade at the helm of NATO ends.

“The alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security. Leading this organisation is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” he wrote online.

The seasoned Dutch leader, whose 14-year tenure in charge of the Netherlands is set to end within weeks, is seen as a safe pair of hands capable of stewarding NATO through perilous times.

His appointment was welcomed by leaders across the 75-year-old alliance, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called it “a good choice for freedom and security”.

While the 57-year-old faces the spectre of a possible return by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House, Mr. Rutte will also have to grapple with the threat posed by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

After staking a claim for the NATO post following the collapse of his coalition last year, Mr. Rutte had to use all his diplomatic skills to win over reluctant allies Turkey and Hungary.

He finally clinched the race last week when his sole challenger, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, dropped out.

Back Ukraine, tame Trump?

A staunch supporter of Ukraine, the straight-talking Dutchman has spearheaded a push to give Kyiv F-16 fighter jets to help beat back Russia’s invasion.

As NATO chief he will play a key role in marshalling weary allies to keep backing the war-torn country — while treading a fine line over Kyiv’s push to join.

“Congratulations to Mark Rutte on being elected as the new Secretary General of NATO. Your leadership and dedication to democratic principles are crucial for our shared future,” the Ukrainian presidency’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on social media.

The Kremlin’s 2022 assault on Ukraine has reinvigorated an alliance that often struggled for purpose after the end of the Cold War, and pushed European nations to increase their defence spending.

Mr. Rutte will now have to ensure NATO is fighting fit to deal with the threat Moscow will pose for years to come, and also keep a keen eye on the growing might of China.

Most testing, however, could be the challenge of keeping the alliance together if Trump reclaims the presidency.

Mr. Trump reportedly mulled pulling the military superpower out of NATO during his first term — only to be talked down by leaders including Rutte.

On the campaign trail this time around, the volatile former reality TV star has rattled allies by saying he would encourage Moscow to attack countries not spending enough on defence.

It is not just the United States that is facing political uncertainty — with crunch polls also coming up in other key countries like France.

Mr. Rutte will look to learn from his predecessor Stoltenberg, who has headed NATO through its most consequential decade since the Cold War ended.

The unflappable former Norwegian prime minister won plaudits for maintaining unity and strengthening NATO through a tumultuous period.

NATO had to extend Stoltenberg’s tenure twice as it struggled for two years to replace him — with many allies initially hoping to name a woman and someone from eastern Europe to take over.

Rutte will be the fourth Dutchman to head the alliance since it was founded upon the ashes of World War II to face off against the Soviet Union.

File picture of outgoing Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who will take charge of NATO
| Photo Credit: AP

NATO appointed Mark Rutte as its next secretary-general on Wednesday, putting the outgoing Dutch prime minister in charge of the world’s biggest security organisation at a critical time for European security as war rages in Ukraine.

Mr. Rutte’s appointment was sealed by NATO ambassadors during a meeting at the 32-nation alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts will formally welcome him to their table at a summit in Washington on July 9-11.

ALSO READ | Mark Rutte: The consensus man

The outgoing Dutch premier will take over from the current secretary general, Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg, on October 1. Mr. Stoltenberg spent more than a decade at the helm. His mandate was repeatedly extended, in part to provide continuity after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

“I warmly welcome NATO allies’ choice of Mark Rutte as my successor,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.

“Mark is a true trans-Atlanticist, a strong leader, and a consensus-builder. I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO for the challenges of today and tomorrow. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he added.

Secretaries general chair meetings and guide often delicate consultations among member countries to ensure the organization, which operates on consensus, can function smoothly. The NATO leader also ensures decisions are put into action and speaks on behalf of all members.

Several obstacles had stood in Rutte’s way of security the post, even though he had the backing of the White House and most other big member countries including Germany. He emerged as the sole candidate after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew last week.

Hungary lifted its objections earlier this month, once Rutte agreed that Budapest would not be obligated in the future to send personnel or provide funds for a new support plan for Ukraine. NATO’s unanimous decision-making gives any member a veto over projects and operations.

Turkey had also voiced opposition to Rutte’s bid but lifted its objections in April.

Frankfurt, Germany:

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has warned there will be no swift end to the Ukraine war, in an interview published Sunday, as Kyiv pushes on with its counteroffensive against Russia. “Most wars last longer than expected when they first begin,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with Germany’s Funke media group.

“Therefore we must prepare ourselves for a long war in Ukraine.”

The conflict began in February, 2022 when Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine, bringing war back to Europe for the first time in decades.

Kyiv launched its counteroffensive in June, pushing back against entrenched Russian positions in the south and east, but it has made limited gains.

“We are all wishing for a quick peace,” said Stoltenberg.

“But at the same time we must recognise: if President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and the Ukrainians stop fighting, their country will no longer exist.

“If President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia lay down their weapons, we will have peace.”

On Ukraine’s ambitions to join the alliance, Stoltenberg said: “There is no doubt that Ukraine will eventually be in NATO.”

Kyiv had “moved closer to NATO” at a summit of the alliance in July, he said.

“When this war ends, we need security guarantees for Ukraine. Otherwise, history could repeat itself,” he added.

At the July summit in Vilnius, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine could join the alliance once certain conditions are met, and US and German officials made it clear that these would include Kyiv carrying out reforms to protect democracy and the rule of law.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)