Now it’s official: Jens Stoltenberg has handed over his position at the top of NATO to Mark Rutte. The newcomer is considered an extremely experienced foreign policy expert, but complex tasks await him.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is the new NATO Secretary General. After around ten years in office, Jens Stoltenberg handed over the post in a ceremony at the Allianz headquarters in Brussels.
The 57-year-old Rutte was chosen for the post in early summer by the governments of the 32 member states of the transatlantic defense alliance. He should take over for at least four years. His mandate could then be renewed.
Challenges in the midst of global crises
During these four years, Rutte has taken on a central role in the alliance: NATO’s Secretary General has to forge compromises between the member states. Because he can also make suggestions for action, he plays a crucial role, especially in times of crisis or conflict. He is also the head of personnel and heads the NATO headquarters as the top administrative official. All of these tasks make him a key figure in security policy.
NATO is the most important security policy alliance in the world. It connects the security interests of Europe and North America. It now has 32 member countries that jointly pursue their security and defense policy goals. In the event of an attack, the states have committed themselves to supporting each other.
The change of power from Stoltenberg to Rutte takes place at a time of many crises. The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is raging at the borders of the defense alliance. In the past, Stoltenberg persistently advocated for the greatest possible support for Ukraine with Western weapons systems. Ukraine will probably hope that Rutte continues this course. “We have to ensure that Ukraine can exist as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation,” emphasized the Dutchman, at least shortly before the handover of office.
Rutte is considered a “Trump whisperer”
A particularly big challenge for the Dutchman could come from the USA. If former US President Donald Trump wins against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at the beginning of November, NATO’s cohesion is in jeopardy. Statements by the Republican in the past had raised doubts as to whether the US would fully commit to providing assistance under his leadership. At times, Trump even threatened to withdraw the USA from the alliance. Stoltenberg acted as a skillful mediator and moderated, among other things, the dispute over European allies’ defense spending that escalated during Trump’s term in office.
The Dutchman also has experience dealing with Trump – he even earned a reputation as a “Trump whisperer.” During a meeting with Rutte in 2019, Trump said he and Rutte had become friends. He described relations between the Netherlands and the USA as better than ever before. Rutte is believed to have a certain influence on Trump. Shortly before the handover, he said in Brussels that he could work with both Harris and Trump, “no matter how the election turns out.”
An experienced crisis manager
Even beyond his reputation as a “Trump whisperer,” Rutte has many years of experience in international politics. The trained historian was head of government of the Netherlands for almost 14 years. He is seen as someone who can hold the store together. “He sees himself as a problem solver, as a manager,” says his biographer, the renowned columnist Sheila Sitalsing – as a “manager of the Netherlands company.”
Until now, Norwegian Stoltenberg has “managed” NATO. The 65-year-old held the office for ten years – only Rutte’s compatriot Joseph Luns has been NATO’s highest international official for longer. He served from 1971 to 1984.
New office for Stoltenberg
After his departure, Stoltenberg is now set to take on a new, important position: According to media reports, he is set to replace Christoph Heusgen as head of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) next year. Corresponding reports were confirmed to the German Press Agency from several sources. Since its founding in 1963, the Munich Security Conference has developed into one of the most important international forums on security policy.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
