Image Credits - RFI
The United States, Britain, France, and Germany have all endorsed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next NATO Secretary General, positioning him favourably for the role after Jens Stoltenberg steps down. The incoming Secretary General, assuming office in October, will face the critical responsibility of maintaining NATO members’ backing for Ukraine’s defence efforts against Russia’s invasion while preventing any escalation that could lead to direct conflict with Moscow.
A U.S. official stated that President Biden strongly supports Prime Minister Rutte’s candidacy for the next Secretary General of NATO. The official emphasized Rutte’s profound comprehension of the Alliance’s significance, his innate leadership abilities, and his effective communication skills, suggesting that his leadership would be beneficial during this pivotal period. The official also noted that depending on the outcome of the November U.S. presidential election, the next NATO leader might encounter the prospect of dealing with a potential second term for Donald Trump. This follows recent criticism from Western officials regarding Trump’s statements questioning his commitment to defending NATO allies if re-elected.
Established in 1949 as a response to the Soviet Union in the Cold War era, NATO is a political and military alliance composed of nations from North America and Europe. Article 5 of its founding treaty emphasizes collective defence, where an attack on one member is viewed as an attack on all. Mark Rutte, aged 57 and the Netherlands’ longest-serving leader, has cultivated positive ties with several British, European Union, and U.S. leaders throughout his time in office, including Donald Trump.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed support for Rutte, according to a government spokesperson. With backing from Washington, the leading power in the alliance, as well as the three major European nations, Rutte finds himself in a strong position. Approximately 20 NATO members are said to support him, although a senior diplomat cautioned that a final decision has yet to be made, and another candidate could still emerge. NATO leaders are appointed by consensus, requiring all 31 members to agree. Poland has not taken a stance yet, while Hungary and Turkey are viewed as potential holdouts, although they have not commented on their positions. Under Rutte’s leadership, Dutch defence spending was initially reduced due to fiscal austerity, but it has since increased following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reaching around 2% of GDP in 2024. Rutte has been a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin for years.
Although Rutte announced his departure from Dutch politics in July, he remains in his caretaker role as coalition negotiations continue after the November 22 election. Stoltenberg, who previously held the position of Norwegian prime minister, has been serving as NATO chief since 2014. Additionally, Sweden is on track to join NATO as its 32nd member. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins have shown interest in the NATO leadership position but have not formally presented themselves as candidates, according to diplomats. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, previously mentioned as a potential successor, ruled out running on Thursday.
