NATO appoints former Dutch Prime Minister as new Secretary General

The Netherlands’ longest-serving Prime Minister Mark Rutte was appointed the new NATO Secretary General on October 1. 

NATO logo flags in front of the headquarters building in Brussels, Belgium, 2022 (Credit: Adobe Stock - Educational Licence)

This new appointment follows the 10-year service of previous Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

During his time in office, Stoltenberg oversaw some of the largest conflicts in Europe since the turn of the century. The most significant among them is the Russia-Ukraine war, which commenced in February 2022. The war is coming up on three years of fighting between the nations.

The official passing of the baton was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

“It is a great honour to be here and to take up the position of NATO Secretary General,” Mark Rutte said at the ceremony.

Rutte outlined his key priorities as head of the alliance to “keep NATO strong” by ensuring their defences remain effective, solidify international relationships, and bolster the NATO-Ukraine alliance and aid partnership. 

Despite contributing to 99 per cent of Ukraine’s military aid, NATO recognises the need for increased assistance.

In the first week of Rutte’s new role, the Security General has already been tested by the Russia-Ukraine war – a conflict that has placed NATO at the epicentre of international affairs.

Under Rutte’s direction, the future of NATO’s relationship with Ukraine seems unwavering.

On October 3, Rutte visited Odesa, Kharkiv and Kyiv, attending meetings and reaffirming the NATO-Ukraine alliance, despite the change in leadership.

“As the new NATO Secretary General, it is my priority and my privilege to take this support forward, working with you to ensure that Ukraine prevails,” said Secretary General Mark Rutte to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

NATO’s latest response to the Russia-Ukraine war “condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine”.

Before entering the role of Secretary General, Rutte’s prior experience with aiding Ukraine in this conflict involved spearheading the F-16 coalition, which provided Ukraine with artillery, drones and ammunition, according to the Royal United Services Institute.

Rutte has been an active participant in supporting Ukraine throughout the Russia-Ukraine war. The position of NATO Secretary General suits his long-term commitment to ensuring their survival, but with growing unrest and conflict in the Western world, Rutte will face difficulty as the leader of the alliance.