Mark Rutte Named New NATO Secretary General

Mark Rutte, the long-serving Dutch prime minister, has been officially appointed as the new secretary general of NATO. This decision puts an experienced and strongly pro-Ukraine leader at the helm of the alliance, known for his conciliatory approach.

At 57 years old, Mr. Rutte will succeed Jens Stoltenberg on Oct. 1, stepping into the role during a challenging period for NATO amidst Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine and the upcoming American presidential election, which could potentially bring back Donald J. Trump, a critic of the alliance, into power.

The appointment was finalized by NATO ambassadors during a meeting at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, ahead of the 75th anniversary summit scheduled next month in Washington. President Biden and other NATO leaders are set to officially welcome Mr. Rutte at the summit, which commences on July 9.

Having served as the Dutch prime minister four times over nearly 14 years, Mr. Rutte is highly regarded for his ability to build complex coalitions through dialogue and compromise. These skills are expected to be valuable in an alliance where decisions are made by consensus, requiring the approval of all member countries.

Despite turning down a previous offer from Mr. Biden to seek the NATO position, Mr. Rutte’s acceptance this time brings stability to the leadership transition, allowing for a smooth handover from Mr. Stoltenberg.