NATO has selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO's next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States' future attitude to the transatlantic alliance. So, what does his appointment mean for NATO?

Brussels

NATO has appointed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next Secretary General. Rutte, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. He will succeed the current Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, in October.

Rutte has held the position of Dutch Prime Minister for nearly 14 years and played a significant role in international efforts to provide F-16 fighter jets and training to Ukraine. His tenure begins as NATO continues to support Ukraine while avoiding direct conflict with Russia. Rutte emphasizes the importance of NATO's strength in countering Moscow and cautioned other European leaders against underestimating Putin's Russia.

Upon taking office, Rutte will face the potential challenge of a NATO-skeptic Donald Trump possibly returning to the White House post the US presidential election. Trump's previous presidency questioned the US's commitment to NATO, causing concern among alliance members. Stoltenberg, in response, has proposed measures to ensure NATO's readiness to provide military aid to Ukraine autonomously, reducing political interference.

Rutte's leadership comes at a transformative time for NATO, with Finland and Sweden recently abandoning their long-standing non-alignment policies following Russia's actions in Ukraine.



NATO appoints Dutch PM Rutte as next chief

Mark Rutte, NATO's next Secretary General, is a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a staunch ally of Ukraine. Rutte will face the challenge of sustaining allies' support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, but must guard against NATO being drawn into a war with Moscow. So how will he run the alliance? Rutte has spent nearly 14 years as Dutch Prime Minister and cemented his bid to become NATO's new chief last year, while coordinating an international coalition that will deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and train Ukrainian pilots. He has been a vocal critic of Putin since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Speak out against Putin and Russia's violation of the UN Charter. Support the peace plan, support Ukraine, even if it takes time, even if there are setbacks, especially if it takes time and there are setbacks, and tell Russia to give back the stolen children of Ukraine. He says NATO must be powerful to counter Moscow, and other European Union leaders must not be naive about Putin's Russia. Rutte is due to take over as leader when incumbent Jens Stoltenberg officially steps down in October. Almost immediately, he will have to contend with the possibility that NATO sceptic Donald Trump may return to the White House after November's US presidential election. The prospect of Trump's return has unnerved NATO leaders, as the Republican former president called into question US willingness to support other members of the alliance if they were attacked. This was Stoltenberg in June. Article 5 is a legal obligation for allies to assist in the event of an armed attack. There is no requirement for any unanimous decision. It led Stoltenberg to propose what is widely seen as Trump-proofing, by putting coordination of international military aid for Ukraine under a NATO umbrella, giving alliance military staff more autonomy to get on with the job and less direct political involvement. As Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rutte is regarded as having been one of the most successful in the EU at dealing with Trump, in spite of the latter's sympathy with Russia. Rutte will oversee a widened NATO, after Finland then Sweden turn their backs on long histories of non-alignment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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