FORMER Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, on Tuesday (1/10) began carrying out his duties as the new secretary general of NATO. He replaces Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg who led the alliance for a decade.
During the handover ceremony, Rutte said he had three priorities as secretary general. First, keeping NATO strong and ensuring allied defenses remain effective and credible against all threats.
“The second priority is to increase support for Ukraine and bring it closer to NATO, because there will be no lasting security in Europe without a strong and independent Ukraine,” he said.
Third, during his term of office he will strengthen NATO’s partnership with the European Union and countries around the world that have common interests and values.
Previously, when meeting directly with Stoltenberg, Rutte said that NATO’s main mission was, “Making sure that we defend our people, our country, and, of course, our values will not change.”
“We must ensure Ukraine wins as a sovereign, independent and democratic country,” he said. He stressed that NATO would step up its collective defense.
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In addition, both Stoltenberg and Rutte expressed concern over the escalation taking place in Lebanon and hoped for peace in the region. In June, NATO announced that Rutte, 47, was officially confirmed as head of the military alliance, replacing Jens Stoltenberg whose term was extended because of the Ukraine war.
Rutte became the only candidate after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from the race.
In July 2023, NATO allies agreed to extend the 65-year-old Stoltenberg’s mandate for another year until October 1, 2024. Stoltenberg has served as NATO’s 13th secretary general since 2014. (Ant/Z-2)
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