Mark Rutte confirmed as next NATO Secretary General

During a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels, ambassadors from 32 NATO countries endorsed the candidacy of Mark Rutte, former Dutch Prime Minister, for the position of NATO Secretary General for the next five years.

The decision was announced by a spokesperson from NATO's press service, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"The NATO ambassadors have formally approved the appointment of Mark Rutte, the former Dutch Prime Minister, as the next Secretary General of the alliance," the press service stated. 

Mark Rutte will begin his tenure as NATO Secretary General on October 2, just ahead of the U.S. election, which holds significant implications for the alliance's future as a key deterrent against Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, now a Republican candidate, has promised to maintain NATO membership but has hinted at potential cuts to U.S. aid for Ukraine if reelected.

Rutte, known for his adept negotiation skills across political spectrums, has earned praise, including from Trump himself, who once remarked favourably about Rutte: "I like this guy!"

The confirmation of Rutte's appointment resolves leadership succession matters ahead of NATO leaders' upcoming meeting in Washington to commemorate the alliance's 75th anniversary in July.

Rutte's journey to secure the top NATO post began last November. However, he faced criticism for his perceived lack of engagement with Eastern European countries, particularly regarding his past support for Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline project before 2014.

During his 14-year tenure as the leader of the EU's fifth-largest economy, Rutte also faced ongoing scrutiny for failing to meet NATO's defence spending target of 2 per cent of GDP. Recent NATO data suggests the Netherlands is on track to meet this target in the current year.