Mark Rutte has been elected as the brand new Secretary Common of NATO. The previous Prime Minister of the Netherlands will exchange Jens Stoltenberg. He’ll begin work in October.
Mark Rutte /Robin Utrecht /PAP/EPA
Rutte will take over as Secretary Common on 1 October, when the time period of workplace of Stoltenberg, who has headed the alliance since 2014, expires.
Mark is a real man of the transatlantic alliance, a powerful chief and consensus builder. I want him each success on his path to strengthening NATO. I do know that I’m leaving NATO in good palms, Stoltenberg mentioned.
From the start, Rutte may rely on the help of many vital NATO nations, together with the USA. After Hungary and Slovakia withdrew their objections, Romania remained the one NATO nation that didn’t help Rutte in his bid to turn out to be head of the Alliance. Nevertheless, this modified after Romanian President Klaus Ioannis withdrew from the place of Secretary Common of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Only a few months in the past, the Dutch and Belgian firms emphasised that a number of points may stop the Dutchman from taking on a brand new place. First, credibility. As head of presidency, Rutte ignored the NATO protection spending commonplace of two p.c for years. GDP. Secondly, gender. Since its creation in 1949, the Alliance has at all times been led by a person, which is why it was more and more mentioned that the Alliance must be headed by a girl.
Mark Rutte is 57 years outdated. He had been prime minister of the Netherlands since 2010, however he resigned as prime minister in July final 12 months. Nevertheless, he continued to carry out this perform as a result of he created a provisional or technical authorities (demissionary cupboard). Such a authorities has restricted powers and features till a brand new cupboard is appointed.
Rutte has been the chief of the center-right and liberal Individuals’s Occasion for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) since 2006 – after changing the earlier chief Rita Verdonk. The competitors for this place was to be fierce and threatened to disintegrate the VVD. Nevertheless, the dispute didn’t hurt Rutte, similar to the political crises within the Netherlands and a number of other hundred makes an attempt to dismiss him from workplace. That is why within the nation Rutte was hailed as “Teflon Mark” to whom “no grime sticks”. It survived, for instance, the scandal surrounding household advantages in 2021, when the complete authorities resigned. Rutte grew to become prime minister once more.
The Dutchman can be recognized for his potential to enter into coalitions with numerous teams, which is why some individuals name him a “chameleon”. Additionally now, the VVD has shaped a brand new authorities coalition with Wilders’ excessive proper, which was criticized by the liberals within the European Parliament, the faction to which Rutte’s get together belongs.
Within the Netherlands, Rutte can be well-known for biking nearly in every single place, nonetheless lives within the small home in The Hague the place he grew up, and has no spouse or kids.
In worldwide politics, Rutte is taken into account a composed and environment friendly negotiator. In 2018, he was nicknamed the “Trump whisperer.” Throughout one of many conferences of the NATO heads of state in Brussels with the then US president, when Trump accused the allies of inadequate protection contributions and started threatening to go away NATO, Rutte allegedly lightened the ambiance by saying that the contributions had elevated due to Trump’s strain. The previous US president was mentioned to have been delighted with Rutt afterwards and praised his “great” time spent in Brussels. Rutte additionally has a great cooperation with the present US President Joe Biden, who in flip praises the Dutchman’s ardour and negotiating expertise.
On the European stage, Rutte has already confronted extra criticism, particularly throughout the race for NATO chief. The Baltic nations accused him, amongst different issues, of failing to boost the Netherlands’ protection contributions to 2 p.c throughout over a decade in workplace. GDP (the Netherlands is predicted to achieve this ceiling solely this 12 months). He’s additionally accused of supporting, amongst others, in 2011 Nord Stream fuel pipeline venture.
At the moment, nevertheless, Rutte is considered one of Kiev’s largest advocates, and the Netherlands has donated navy gear to Ukraine, together with: F-16 multi-role plane. In the course of the February safety convention in Munich, the Dutchman argued that it’s essential to put money into protection, together with the arms business, and proceed help for Ukraine.
The Secretary Common is the highest-ranking consultant of NATO. This particular person is answerable for main the Alliance’s session and decision-making course of and making certain that these selections are carried out.
He’s elected by the governments of member states for a interval of 4 years, which can be prolonged with the consent of all NATO nations. Choice takes place by casual diplomatic consultations between nations presenting candidates for the place.
The Secretary-Common chairs the North Atlantic Council – the Alliance’s essential decision-making physique – in addition to different senior decision-making committees. These embody the Nuclear Planning Group, the NATO-Ukraine Council, the NATO-Russia Council and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
The pinnacle of the Alliance has the correct to suggest matters for dialogue. Acts as a mediator, main the consensus constructing and decision-making course of all through the group. To facilitate this course of, it maintains direct contact with the heads of state and authorities and the ministers of overseas affairs and protection of NATO and associate nations. This includes common visits to those nations, in addition to bilateral conferences with senior nationwide officers throughout their visits to NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
In follow, its position permits it to exert a sure affect on the decision-making course of, whereas respecting the basic precept that decision-making powers relaxation solely with the member state governments themselves.
The Secretary Common can be the Alliance’s chief spokesman and represents the group publicly on behalf of the member states, reflecting their frequent positions on political points. He additionally represents NATO to different worldwide organizations, the media and most of the people. For this function, he convenes common press conferences.
He’s probably the most senior head of NATO’s Worldwide Workers, the advisory and administrative physique supporting the North Atlantic Council.
In his day-to-day work, the Secretary-Common is instantly assisted by the Cupboard and the Deputy Secretary-Common.
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