Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took office as NATO Secretary General on October 1, Reuters reports.
The official takeover ceremony took place at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, where outgoing NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg handed Mark Rutte a symbolic gavel.
Mark Rutte, who stepped down as Dutch Prime Minister in July 2023 and announced his retirement from politics, unexpectedly decided to run for NATO Secretary General in October.
Over his 13 years as Dutch Prime Minister, he has won the support of many European leaders and the approval of U.S. President Joe Biden.
In his new role, Mark Rutte will have to unite 32 NATO countries and cope with difficult tasks, including strengthening the alliance amid ongoing conflicts.
His ability to find compromises, accumulated experience and reputation as an anti-crisis manager will help in resolving complex issues and finding consensus between NATO countries, experts believe.
