Scholz and Biden support Dutchman Rutte as NATO chief
Scholz and Biden support Dutchman Rutte as NATO chief
Chancellor Scholz and US President Joe Biden support a possible nomination of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the new NATO Secretary General. With his immense experience, expertise and strong diplomatic skills, he is an outstanding candidate.
After around a decade in office, Jens Stoltenberg is giving up the post of NATO Secretary General. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has good prospects of being his successor. However, Hungary and Turkey are considered possible opponents.
DDutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has the best chance of becoming the new Secretary General of NATO: The federal government, the USA and Great Britain spoke out in favor of the current head of government in The Hague on Thursday.
“With his immense experience, his great security policy expertise and his strong diplomatic skills, Mark Rutte is an outstanding candidate for the post of NATO Secretary General,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit to the Reuters news agency. “The Chancellor supports the nomination of Mark Rutte as the new Secretary General of NATO.” A US representative said that President Joe Biden also supports the candidacy. The British Foreign Office also said the government in London was behind Rutte.
Acting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has already extended his term of office several times, but the Norwegian wants to finally step down in October after a decade at the head of the North Atlantic defense alliance.
Since three of the most important NATO states have now spoken out in favor of the 57-year-old Rutte, his chances are considered excellent. A senior French official said Paris was also behind Rutte, adding that President Emmanuel Macron had been an early supporter of installing the Dutchman. Poland does not yet have a position, said a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw.
The NATO Secretary General is appointed by consensus and therefore requires the support of all 31 members. This means that the public support of Scholz, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not yet sufficient. Two diplomats said Rutte so far had the informal support of about 20 NATO members. Hungary and Turkey are considered possible opponents, but have not yet commented.
“Rutte’s leadership would be good for the alliance at this critical time”
“Prime Minister Rutte has a deep understanding of the importance of the alliance, is a natural leader and a good communicator, and his leadership would serve the alliance well at this critical time,” a US diplomat said.
Rutte, 57, has built good relationships with various British and US leaders during his long tenure in the Netherlands – including former US President Donald Trump. Depending on the outcome of the US presidential election in November, the next NATO chief may have to contend with a second Trump term. He was sharply criticized by Western governments earlier this month for questioning his commitment to defending NATO allies in the event of a Russian attack if he were re-elected.
“We have to work with everyone who is on the dance floor,” Rutte himself said on Saturday. He had urged European leaders to “stop whining and complaining” about Trump and instead focus on what they could do for Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz made a similar statement.
Under Rutte’s leadership, Dutch defense spending was cut in previous years. However, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands has increased its spending again, so that it will amount to around two percent of economic output in 2024. Rutte has long been a harsh critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.