Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte became the new Secretary General of NATO. He replaced Nor Jens Stoltenberg, who had been in the post for ten years. During the North Atlantic Council’s ceremonial meeting, Stoltenberg symbolically handed him the ceremonial gavel, which the head of NATO uses at the start of negotiations. The North Atlantic Council is the highest body of the alliance.
“Unity is our greatest strength,” outgoing NATO chief Stoltenberg said at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. He praised Rutte for being able to negotiate compromises and reach consensus, but at the same time he made it clear several times that no compromise is possible when it comes to the “fundamental values of the North Atlantic Alliance”. At the end, Stoltenberg thanked everyone present and his wife Ingrid, who also attended today’s ceremony. “Today I promise to come home from Brussels on time,” he added with a smile.
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He and Rutte then switched places at the head of the negotiating table. During his opening speech, the new Secretary General reiterated his priorities – aid to Ukraine, strengthening of transatlantic relations, as well as increasing defense spending.
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