It’s done. The ambassadors of 32 NATO countries appointed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as Secretary General of the organization this Wednesday, following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, the political governing body of the NATO. ‘Alliance.
The Batavian leader will take office on October 1, replacing the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, in office for ten years, who affirmed that he left NATO “in good hands”, on his X account shortly after the appointment of his successor. “Mark is a true defender of transatlantic relations, a strong leader and a consensus builder,” he even added.
“The Trump Whisperer”
It’s a “huge honor,” responded Mark Rutte shortly after his appointment. Known for cycling to work while crunching an apple, the Dutchman will need all his balancing skills to lead NATO through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Standing 1m93 tall, the 57-year-old has many nicknames, including “Teflon Mark” because of his resistance to scandals, or “The Trump Whisperer”, for his ability to reason with the former American president.
It is perhaps this characteristic resistance to controversy that has allowed him to remain Prime Minister of Holland until now – almost fourteen years, the longest longevity in the country, notably surviving in 2021 the resignation of his government following a scandal over social benefits. He ended up resigning last year after infighting within his coalition over the issue of asylum.
“Ukraine must win this war”
The second skill, in this year of the American presidential election, may prove crucial at the head of NATO with the possible return to power of Donald Trump, notoriously skeptical about the United States’ commitment within the ‘alliance. He is thus credited with having saved a NATO summit in 2018 by discussing defense spending with Donald Trump.
Concerning Ukraine, the new NATO Secretary General has spearheaded efforts aimed at provide the country with F-16 combat aircraft, a decision described as “historic” by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a trip to the Netherlands. “Ukraine must win this war. For his safety and ours,” declared the man who did not hesitate to describe Russian President Vladimir Putin as “cold, brutal, ruthless” shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A characteristic outspokenness
Most recently, Mark Rutte was outspoken at the 2023 Munich Security Conference, saying Europe needed to work “with everyone on the dance floor.” “All this whining and whining about Trump, I hear it constantly these last few days, let’s stop,” he said.
To reach the head of NATO, Mr Rutte has shown great diplomatic talent in order to convince the main holdouts, Turkey and Hungary. The latter had been offended by his remarks, when he declared that Budapest should not be part of the EU after the adoption of a law banning the promotion of LGBTQ content to minors.
“Mr. No” or “Mr. Normal”?
Mark Rutte also infuriated countries in southern Europe with his hard line on financial bailouts, earning him another nickname: “Mr. No.” In his country, the Prime Minister can rather boast an image of “Mr Normal”.
In addition to arriving by bike “biting an apple” to meet foreign leaders, he does his shopping at the supermarket and drives his Saab himself to go to the king of the Netherlands. In a video that has gone viral, he insists on cleaning up the coffee he has just spilled in one of the government buildings, to the applause of the staff.
Our file on NATO
His political career, however, was marred by several scandals. The sudden collapse last year of his coalition triggered elections won by Geert Wilders’ far-right. Having become Prime Minister in 2010, Mark Rutte is expected to leave office on July 2 after the new Dutch government is sworn in scheduled for that date.