New Delhi: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been appointed as the next NATO chief by NATO allies. This appointment comes amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict which is in its third year.
The decision to appoint Rutte as NATO Secretary General was taken collectively by the Ambassadors of the 32 members of the security alliance at a meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
His appointment became formal after his only rival for the post, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, pulled back from the race last week after he failed to gain traction. Rutte will succeed Jens Stoltenberg.
Rutte to Assume Post from Oct 1
“The North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg,” NATO said in a statement. “Mr Rutte will assume his functions as Secretary General from 1 October 2024, when Mr Stoltenberg’s term expires after ten years at the helm of the Alliance,” it added.
Rutte, who last declared his interest in the post, got backing from key members of the transatlantic alliance, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany. Rutte is considered a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a staunch ally of Ukraine.
Rutte is bowing out of politics of the Netherlands after nearly 14 years of service as prime minister, which makes him the longest-serving Dutch PM.
Key Challenges for Rutte
One of the major challenges that Rutte is likely to face is gaining continued support from its allies for Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion while guarding against NATO’s being drawn directly into a war with Moscow.
Rutte will also have to be prepared for the possibility that NATO-sceptic Donald Trump may make a comeback to the White House after November’s US presidential election.
Earlier, Republican ex-president had questioned the US willingness to extend support to other members of the alliance if they were attacked.
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