SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP
Mark Rutte, here pictured at a NATO press conference on June 27, 2023, named head of the organization
DIPLOMACY – In a tense international context marked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Ukraine, NATO has just acquired a new leader. The 32 countries of the transatlantic alliance appointed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, 57, as their next secretary general this Wednesday, June 26.
He will take office on October 1, replacing Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, who has been in office for ten years. “ I know I will leave NATO in good hands “, the latter immediately reacted on X. “ Mark is a true advocate for transatlantic relations, a strong leader and a consensus builder. “, he added.
Strong ? Mark Rutte’s political career is in fact part of a certain resilience and resistance to scandals. Nicknamed “Teflon Mark”, he is the longest-serving Prime Minister in his country (14 years), rebounding in particular in 2021 after the resignation of his government following a scandal over social benefits. He eventually stepped down last year after a coalition dispute over asylum.
While the presidential election in the United States could lead to Trump’s return to the White House, his communication facilities with the Republican are regularly praised. So much so that he was even nicknamed « The Trump Whisperer »or the one who whispered in Donald Trump’s ear.
“Sir no”
He is notably credited with saving the NATO summit in 2018, during which he discussed defense spending with the former president. He also did not hesitate to openly contradict him while he was in the Oval Office.
More recently, Mark Rutte was once again outspoken at the Munich Security Conference, saying that Europe must work “with whoever is on the dance floor”. “All this whining and whining about Trump, I hear it constantly these days, let’s stop doing that”did he declare.
On the Ukrainian question, its solidarity with kyiv no longer needs to be demonstrated. In addition to the fact that the Netherlands signed an agreement this year for two billion euros in military assistance over 10 years, Mark Rutte has also spearheaded efforts to equip kyiv with F fighter jets. -16. A decision then qualified as“historical” by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
If he managed to convince those most resistant to his appointment, Turkey and Hungary, he did not always have only friendly countries in Europe. His particularly tough position during the negotiations around the European recovery plan in the midst of the Covid crisis earned him another nickname in the countries of southern Europe: “Mr No”.
Also see on The HuffPost :
Reading this content may result in cookies being placed by the third party operator who hosts it. Taking into account the choices you have expressed regarding the deposit of cookies, we have blocked the display of this content. If you wish to access it, you must accept the “Third Party Content” category of cookies by clicking on the button below.
Play Video
