Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has officially taken over as NATO’s Secretary General, following a handover ceremony at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
Rutte, who succeeds Jens Stoltenberg, expressed gratitude to NATO allies for entrusting him with the position. “It is a big job, and I have big shoes to fill,” he remarked.
Appointed by NATO’s 32 member countries during the summer, Rutte secured early backing from key allies, including the United States, Germany, and Britain, despite his government’s previous record of low defense spending.
Rutte steps into the role during a pivotal time, as the alliance confronts heightened tensions with a more assertive Russia and continues to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression under President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion.
