Official NATO announcements and news reports

NATO Allies Elect Dutch PM Mark Rutte, 57, as Next Secretary General Starting October 1

Jun 26, 2024, 09:03 AM

NATO allies have officially elected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of the alliance. He will succeed Jens Stoltenberg, who has served in the role for over a decade. Rutte, known for his strong support of Ukraine and his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will assume office on October 1, 2024. His appointment comes at a critical time for European security as the war in Ukraine continues and uncertainty looms over the United States' future stance towards NATO. Rutte's candidacy was endorsed by all 32 NATO member states, including Türkiye, Hungary, and Slovakia. Stoltenberg praised Rutte as a "true transatlanticist, strong leader, and consensus-builder." Rutte, 57 years old, has headed the government of the Netherlands since October 2010.