In a landmark decision, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has appointed acting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next Secretary General. The announcement was made by NATO’s main political decision-making body on Wednesday and comes after months of intense lobbying for the post.
The appointment of Rutte, who is known for his staunch support of Ukraine and consensus-building skills, has been hailed as a major victory for Europe in its tussle with Russia. The 57-year-old veteran politician, who was serving as the Prime Minister of Netherlands at the time of his appointment, will take up the post on October 1, 2023.
In a statement released through X (formerly known as Twitter), Rutte said that he was honored and humbled to be appointed as the next NATO Secretary General. He further praised the outgoing Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg for his “outstanding leadership” over the past 10 years.
The decision to appoint Rutte was made after Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia indicated their support for him amid stiff competition from other candidates such as Ben Wallace, Kaja Kallas and Klaus Iohannis.
Rutte’s selection came after months of wrangling between NATO member countries over who should succeed Stoltenberg when his term ends on August 31, 2023. The process was complicated by the fact that several countries had expressed concerns about Russia’s increasing aggression in Eastern Europe and were wary of any candidate who might be seen as soft on Moscow.
The decision to appoint Rutte came after Estonia’s Kallas dropped out of the race last week, while Hungary and Slovakia indicated they would back the Dutch politician. According to Reuters, Estonia’s Kallas was considered the front-runner for the post until she withdrew her candidacy in mid-September.
Rutte’s appointment also comes as NATO countries continue to provide Ukraine with large-scale military support amid Russia’s aggression. The Dutch prime minister has described Russia as an “adversary” while advocating aiding Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested on Wednesday that the alliance was unlikely to change its overall policy towards Russia with Rutte at its helm. At the moment, the alliance is hostile to us,” he added.
Rutte’s appointment also comes amidst renewed tensions between the West and Russia following President Trump’s possible return to the White House in 2024. In a recent interview with The Economist, Rutte urged the bloc to “stop moaning and whining” about the GOP frontrunner.
Rutte’s nomination is seen as an important step towards strengthening European security amidst renewed tensions with Russia. He has been described as a consensus builder who can bring NATO countries together to tackle the challenges posed by Moscow.
In conclusion, the appointment of Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO is expected to have a significant impact on European and global security in the coming years. While there may be concerns about Russia’s increased aggression, Rutte’s consensus-building skills and experience are seen as vital for promoting peace and stability in the region.