NATO chooses Dutch Prime Minister as new leader

"The North Atlantic Council has decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Mr. Rutte will assume the position of Secretary General from 1 October 2024, when Mr. Stoltenberg's term ends after 10 years leading the Alliance," NATO said in a statement.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Photo: Reuters

Last year, after declaring his interest in the position, Prime Minister Rutte quickly received support from key members of the alliance including the US, UK, France and Germany.

Mr Stoltenberg said he warmly welcomed the choice of the Dutch prime minister as his successor. "Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and consensus builder. I know I will leave NATO in responsible hands," he said.

NATO makes decisions based on consensus, so Mr Rutte, who retired from Dutch politics after nearly 14 years as prime minister, can only be confirmed if all 32 alliance members back him.

Mr Rutte will face challenges such as maintaining NATO allies' support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, while also guarding against NATO being drawn directly into a war with Moscow.

He will also face the possibility that former US President Donald Trump, a NATO skeptic, could return to the White House after the US presidential election in November.

Mr Trump's potential return to the White House has worried NATO leaders, with the former Republican president questioning whether the US would be ready to come to the aid of other members of the alliance if they were attacked.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nato-chon-thu-tuong-ha-lan-lam-lanh-dao-moi-post300889.html