NATO ambassadors have chosen the Secretary General: all the details

On June 26, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was officially appointed as the NATO Secretary General.

This was announced on NATO's official website.

"On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next NATO Secretary General, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Rutte will assume his duties as Secretary General on October 1, 2024, when Stoltenberg's term ends after ten years at the helm of the Alliance," the statement reads.

How it will affect Ukraine

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Netherlands has provided Ukraine with weapons worth four billion euros. Under Rutte's leadership, the country, comparable in size to Odesa region, has become one of the top five donors to Ukraine. However, a significant shift in NATO policy toward Ukraine is unlikely.

"NATO troops should not enter Ukraine because it would lead to a direct confrontation with Russia and a third world war," said Mark Rutte.

Rutte was offered the role of NATO Secretary General at least twice, with the initiative coming from across the Atlantic both times. The United States was among the first to endorse the Dutch Prime Minister's candidacy this time as well.

Jens Stoltenberg's term ends in October, just weeks before the U.S. elections and the potential return of Trump. The Alliance likely counts on Rutte's diplomatic skills, as Trump has repeatedly stated that the United States spends too much on defense and even threatened to withdraw from NATO. 

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