Mark Rutte has been selected by NATO as its future secretary-general on Wednesday.
This significant appointment places the outgoing Dutch prime minister in a position of leadership in the world’s largest security organization during a critical period for European security, especially with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
NATO ambassadors confirmed Rutte’s appointment during a meeting held at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. The formal acceptance and acknowledgment of his new role will occur at a summit in Washington on July 9-11, where he will join US President Joe Biden and other world leaders.
As of October 1, the current secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg of Norway, will pass the baton to Rutte, marking the transition of power. Stoltenberg has played a crucial role in NATO for over a decade, and his tenure was extended multiple times to ensure stability following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
