{"id":373279,"date":"2024-06-26T12:14:23","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T10:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eunews.it\/2024\/06\/26\/mark-rutte-segretario-generale-nato\/"},"modified":"2024-07-09T15:54:19","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T13:54:19","slug":"mark-rutte-has-been-named-stoltenbergs-successor-as-nato-secretary-general","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.eunews.it\/en\/2024\/06\/26\/mark-rutte-has-been-named-stoltenbergs-successor-as-nato-secretary-general\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Rutte has been named Stoltenberg’s successor as NATO Secretary General"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussels – It is now official. The outgoing Premier of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, will be the next NATO Secretary General as of October 1, <\/strong>the North Atlantic Council, the main decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, announced\u00a0in a note<\/a> its decision to nominate the only remaining candidate in the race to succeed the Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg<\/strong> at the helm of the Atlantic Alliance, taking up his duties a few months after the Washington Summit (scheduled for July 9-11).<\/p>\n

\"Mark<\/a>
The outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands and next Nato Secretary General, Mark Rutte (credits: Kenzo Tribouillard \/ Afp)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I warmly\u00a0welcome the NATO allies’ choice of Rutte as my successor,” is Stoltenberg’s enthusiastic announcement<\/a>, calling the Dutch premier “true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus-builder. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands<\/strong>.” Rutte’s first words<\/a> after the appointment underline the “tremendous honor” to lead the Atlantic Alliance, which “is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security,<\/strong>” the almost former Dutch Prime Minister said. “Leading this organization is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I\u2019m 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<\/strong> and for whom I have always had great admiration.”<\/p>\n

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. <\/strong>I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the EU-NATO partnership,” said<\/a>\u00a0European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen<\/strong>, reinforced by the words<\/a> of EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola<\/strong>: “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 <\/strong>(from the Renew Europe family like the almost former Dutch Prime Minister), also expressed satisfaction<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0the choice of Rutte, “who comes while the future of Europe, peace, and security is at stake.”<\/p>\n