This article was originally published in English
The outgoing Dutch prime minister will head the Atlantic Alliance after the end of Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate. The withdrawal of the Romanian president’s candidacy paved the way for Rutte
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Mark Rutte will be appointed head of NATOafter that Romanian president Klaus Iohannis withdrew his candidacyannouncing that he supports that of the outgoing Dutch prime minister.
Rutte will take on the most important role of the Atlantic Alliance after the end of Jens Stoltenberg’s mandate in October. He will govern in a difficult period in which NATO faces Russian aggression Ukraine and the potentially wavering support of the United States.
His appointment was confirmed just ahead of summit to be held in Washington from 9 to 11 Julyon the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the alliance.
Iohannis had also put himself forward as Secretary General, the senior official who coordinates the Brussels-based organisation, but his government has now offered its support to Rutte.
Stoltenberg has been in office since 2014 and was expected to step down last yearbut his mandate was extended by one year until next October.
The challenges of NATO and the next Secretary General Rutte in Ukraine
Mark Rutte will have a mandate of at least four years. To be nominated he had to face opposition from the Hungarian Viktor Orbánwho did not want to be forced to support Ukraine.
As head of NATO Rutte will have to face a difficult balancing actin particular supporting the Ukrainian resistance, without provoking a more serious Russian escalation.
A further twist could come with the US presidential elections in Novembergiven that the Republican candidate Donald Trump he has been lukewarm about the alliance, even calling on Russia to invade supposed allies who don’t invest in their militaries.
Mark Rutte’s political parable
Rutte has led the Netherlands since 2010, at the head of a series of complicated coalitions, but will resign on July 2. Rutte’s liberal party, the VVD, will be part of a coalition led by former spy chief Dick Schoof, after the November elections which saw asurge in support for right-wing leader Geert Wilders.
Last weekend, Rutte attended the Ukraine summit in Switzerland, from which he promised that the Netherlands “will continue to support Ukraine in every way possible. For as long as it takes and with all the support it needs.”
