- Europe, like you've never read before -
Sunday, 25 May 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • it ITA
  • en ENG
Eunews
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • News
  • Defence
  • Net & Tech
  • Agrifood
  • Other sections
    • Culture
    • Diritti
    • Energy
    • Green Economy
    • Finance & Insurance
    • Industry & Markets
    • Media
    • Mobility & Logistics
    • Sports
  • Newsletter
  • European 2024
    Eunews
    • Politics
    • World
    • Business
    • News
    • Defence
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Other sections
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • Sports
    No Result
    View All Result
    Eunews
    No Result
    View All Result

    Home » World politics » Mark Rutte has been named Stoltenberg’s successor as NATO Secretary General

    Mark Rutte has been named Stoltenberg’s successor as NATO Secretary General

    After the green light from the last most reticent members (Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania), the North Atlantic Council selected the outgoing Dutch Premier, who will assume the leadership of the Atlantic Alliance starting Oct. 1. Congratulations from Brussels to the (almost former) member of the European Council for 14 years.

    Federico Baccini</a> <a class="social twitter" href="https://twitter.com/@federicobaccini" target="_blank">@federicobaccini</a> by Federico Baccini @federicobaccini
    26 June 2024
    in World politics
    Mark Rutte Jens Stoltenberg Nato

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte

    Brussels – It is now official. The outgoing Premier of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, will be the next NATO Secretary General as of October 1, the North Atlantic Council, the main decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, announced in a note its decision to nominate the only remaining candidate in the race to succeed the Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of the Atlantic Alliance, taking up his duties a few months after the Washington Summit (scheduled for July 9-11).

    Mark Rutte Nato
    The outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands and next Nato Secretary General, Mark Rutte (credits: Kenzo Tribouillard / Afp)

    “I warmly welcome the NATO allies’ choice of Rutte as my successor,” is Stoltenberg’s enthusiastic announcement, calling the Dutch premier “true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands.” Rutte’s first words after the appointment underline the “tremendous honor” to lead the Atlantic Alliance, which “is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security,” the almost former Dutch Prime Minister said. “Leading this organization is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I’m grateful to all the Allies for placing their trust in me,” he added while thanking his predecessor Stoltenberg, “who has provided NATO with exceptional leadership over the past 10 years and for whom I have always had great admiration.”

    The leaders of EU institutions in Brussels also congratulated the Dutch liberal who has been at the European Council table for the past 14 years (he took the office of Prime Minister of the Netherlands on Oct. 14, 2010). “Your leadership and experience will be crucial for the Alliance during these challenging times. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the EU-NATO partnership,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reinforced by the words of EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola: “At a time of increasing security challenges across the globe, your leadership and tenacity will be much needed.” The Secretary-General of the European Democratic Party, Sandro Gozi (from the Renew Europe family like the almost former Dutch Prime Minister), also expressed satisfaction with the choice of Rutte, “who comes while the future of Europe, peace, and security is at stake.”

    Rutte’s race to lead Nato

    Early indications that Rutte was the favorite in the race for NATO secretary had emerged from an editorial by former Atlantic Alliance spokesperson (until September 2023) Oana Lungescu: “Forging consensus among NATO’s 31 allies is the Secretary General’s main job. Rutte, sometimes called ‘Teflon Mark’ for his ability to lead diverse coalitions and survive political scandals, is a pragmatic dealmaker and a master of consensus.” In this sense, the Dutch Premier had long tightened relations with Stoltenberg as well as other Alliance leaders, from Albania to Lithuania, from Poland to the United States. The issue of ties with Washington has been another point in favor of Rutte, who has developed an excellent relationship with President Joe Biden and, at the same time, is also one of the few European leaders to have tried to maintain a stable one with his predecessor Trump, who may return to the White House after the November elections. The Dutch Prime Minister also managed to bridge the one weakness in his candidacy, namely the Dutch alignment with the minimum defense spending threshold of 2 percent relative to GDP: according to the report NATO published on June 17, The Hague reached 2.05 in 2024.

    Klaus Iohannis Jens Stoltenberg Nato
    From left: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis (credits: Andrei Pungovschi / Afp)

    As early as the end of February, it had become clear that the resigning Dutch Premier was the favorite to succeed Stoltenberg at the head of the Atlantic Alliance after winning the support of 20 member countries, notably the United States and the United Kingdom. The Alliance’s Secretary-General selection is through informal diplomatic consultations among member countries, which propose candidates for the post (traditionally a senior European political figure). There is no actual vote, but the decision is not confirmed until there is a consensus on a candidate. Rutte continued his diplomatic work in recent months to convince all 31 leaders until Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, announced on June 18 the agreement with outgoing Secretary-General Stoltenberg to unblock Rutte’s nomination (following a letter received from his Dutch colleague himself), and so did the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, was thus left without any potential support, pulling out of the race to become the next NATO Secretary General last Thursday (June 20) at the end of the Supreme National Defense Council meeting.

    English version by the Translation Service of Withub
    Tags: bornjens stoltenbergmark ruttenorth atlantic councilsecretary general nato

    Related Posts

    Mark Rutte Jens Stoltenberg Nato
    Politics

    Dutch Rutte to be next NATO secretary general after Romanian Iohannis surrenders

    20 June 2024
    Jens Stoltenberg Nato
    Politics

    Italy is among 8 NATO countries that have not yet reached the 2 percent defense spending threshold

    18 June 2024
    Frans Timmermans
    Politics

    Exit polls from the Netherlands slow the far-right landslide. Timmermans’ center-left in the lead

    7 June 2024
    Jens Stoltenberg Donald Trump Nato Usa
    World politics

    NATO’s “significant increases” in collective defence in response to Trump: “Don’t undermine deterrence”

    14 February 2024
    Donald Trump Stati Uniti Nato
    World politics

    Brussels’ outrage at Trump’s threats on NATO: if allies don’t defend each other, everyone is at risk

    12 February 2024
    map visualization
    Donald Trump

    Trump’s new threat to the EU: 50 per cent tariffs from 1 June

    by Francesco Bortoletto bortoletto_f
    23 May 2025

    The US President is not letting up, in fact he is doubling down on the 25 per cent tariffs suspended...

    Il governo americano vieta l'iscrizione degli studenti stranieri all'università di Harvard (Foto:

    Trump bans foreign students from Harvard, the EU ready to step in

    by Marco La Rocca
    23 May 2025

    Over 6,000 students to be expelled, Harvard sues US government, EU Council discusses further reception measures for students and researchers....

    italia danimarca migranti

    Italy, Denmark and other 7 EU countries challenge the ECHR: “It prevents expulsion of criminal foreign nationals”

    by Simone De La Feld @SimoneDeLaFeld1
    23 May 2025

    In an open letter, Meloni and Frederiksen denounce the limits imposed on the "ability to make political decisions" and call...

    Gitanas Nauseda Friedrich Merz

    Germany starts deploying 5,000 troops near Lithuania’s border with Russia

    by Francesco Bortoletto bortoletto_f
    23 May 2025

    Berlin's army -- which Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to make "the strongest in Europe" -- has stationed its 45th armoured...

    • Director’s Point of View
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Opinions
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie policy

    Eunews is a registered newspaper
    Press Register of the Court of Turin n° 27


     

    Copyright © 2025 - WITHUB S.p.a., Via Rubens 19 - 20148 Milan
    VAT number: 10067080969 - ROC registration number n.30628
    Fully paid-up share capital 50.000,00€

     

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Politics
    • Newsletter
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    No Result
    View All Result
    • it ITA
    • en ENG
    • Politics
    • Newsletter
    • World politics
    • Business
    • General News
    • Defence & Security
    • Net & Tech
    • Agrifood
    • Altre sezioni
      • European Agenda
      • Culture
      • Diritti
      • Energy
      • Green Economy
      • Gallery
      • Finance & Insurance
      • Industry & Markets
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Media
      • Mobility & Logistics
      • News
      • Opinions
      • Sports
    • Director's Point of View
    • L’Europa come non l’avete mai ascoltata
    • Draghi Report
    • Eventi
    • Eunews Newsletter

    Attention