NATO Allies on Wednesday nominated the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, as the next head of NATO.
Rutte’s appointment became a formality after his only rival for the post, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, announced last week that he was withdrawing from the race after failing to secure support.
Rutte will take over as Secretary General of the military alliance from October 1, 2024, when Jens Stoltenberg’s term ends after ten years at the helm of NATO.
Stoltenberg, who has led NATO for 10 years, said he was leaving the alliance in “safe hands” and called Ruttes a “strong transatlantic” leader.
“I welcome the decision of the NATO allies to choose Mark Rutten as my successor. Mark is a true transatlantic, a powerful leader. I wish him success as we continue to strengthen NATO for current and future challenges,” said Stoltenberg./REL/
