NATO allies on Wednesday chosen Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s next boss, as the struggle in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States’ future attitude to the transatlantic alliance.
Rutte’s appointment grew to become a formality after his solely rival for the submit, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, introduced final week that he had stop the race, having failed to achieve traction.
“The North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg,” NATO mentioned in an announcement.
“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.
After declaring his curiosity within the submit final yr, Rutte gained early help from key members of the alliance together with the United States, Britain, France and Germany.
Others have been extra reticent, notably Eastern European international locations which argued the submit ought to go to somebody from their area for the primary time.
But they in the end rowed in behind Rutte, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a staunch ally of Ukraine.
Stoltenberg mentioned he warmly welcomed the choice of Rutte as his successor.
“Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader, and a consensus-builder,” he mentioned. “I know I am leaving NATO in good hands.”
NATO takes selections by consensus so Rutte, who’s bowing out of Dutch politics after practically 14 years as prime minister, might solely be confirmed as soon as all 32 alliance members gave him their backing.
Rutte will face the problem of sustaining allies’ help for Ukraine’s battle towards Russia’s invasion whereas guarding towards NATO’s being drawn immediately right into a struggle with Moscow.
He may also need to cope with the likelihood that NATO-sceptic Donald Trump could return to the White House after November’s U.S. presidential election.
Trump’s attainable return has unnerved NATO leaders as the Republican former president known as into query U.S. willingness to help different members of the alliance in the event that they have been attacked.