“Teflon Mark” Rutte has been appointed as the head of NATO his ability to establish consensus, which he acquired in Dutch politics, will be indispensable.
The head of NATO — Over the course of more than a dozen years at the top of Dutch politics, Mark Rutte learned a thing or two about reaching an agreement among turbulent coalition members. As NATO’s next secretary general, he will draw on his experience heading four Dutch multiparty administrations.
On Wednesday, NATO ambassadors named the outgoing Dutch prime minister as the alliance’s next secretary general, the organization’s highest civilian position. Rutte is set to lead the world’s largest military organization beginning in October.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that “Mark is a true trans-Atlanticist, a strong leader, and a consensus-builder.” “I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.” “I know I’m leaving NATO in capable hands,” he stated. Rutte will be congratulated by President Biden and his North Atlantic Treaty Organization colleagues during a conference in Washington on July 9-11 centered on assistance for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, which is undoubtedly the alliance’s most serious issue.
“The alliance is and will be the foundation of our common security. “Leading this organization is a responsibility I take seriously,” he wrote on X. He stated that he looks “forward to taking up the position with great vigor in October.”
The secretary general preside over meetings and directs sometimes sensitive negotiations among the 32 NATO member nations to guarantee that an organization based on consensus can continue to function. The NATO leader also ensures that decisions are implemented and advocates on behalf of all members.Rutte took to social media to characterize his nomination as “a tremendous honor.”
Rutte was put to the test before succeeding Stoltenberg in office.
Securing the position of NATO head took all of Rutte’s diplomatic abilities, as he persuaded naysayers, notably Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to support his candidacy.
Rutte has to accept Hungary’s insistence that it not be required to send people or finances for NATO’s expanded assistance measures for Ukraine. In a consensus-based coalition, each country has a veto.
A former NATO spokeswoman agrees that Rutte is an excellent match for the post.
“Rutte, like Stoltenberg, is a pragmatist and one of the few European leaders who has established a positive working relationship with both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Oana Lungescu, a former top NATO spokesman, believes that might be a valuable asset for NATO following the November presidential election in the United States.
Rutte “is seen as a safe pair of hands to lead NATO in turbulent times, just as Stoltenberg has done for the last decade,” said Lungescu, who is now a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank.
From historian to businessman to politician
Rutte, a history degree and former human resources manager at consumer goods major Unilever, became Prime Minister of the Netherlands for the first time in October 2010. He resigned in July as his four-party coalition debated how to control migration.
Despite being one of Europe’s most powerful leaders for many years, Rutte has maintained a humble demeanor.
He is frequently spotted riding his bicycle around his hometown, The Hague, or heading from his office to a meeting while eating an apple. Last year, he traveled to an elegant royal castle in a Saab station wagon to deliver his government’s resignation letter to King Willem-Alexander.
Rutte posed for photographs with people outside his office while sitting on his bicycle last Thursday, after his last opponent for the top NATO position resigned.
Rutte was a staunch advocate of Ukraine’s right to self-defense during Russia’s invasion in 2022. Under his leadership, the Netherlands promised military hardware to Ukraine, including Leopard tanks and F-16 fighter planes.
He cited the conflict on Europe’s eastern border as one of the reasons he sought the position of NATO chief.
Rutte’s political career has not been all easy sailing.
Rutte recovered from a series of controversies while in power in the Netherlands. He gained the nickname Teflon Mark for his ability to keep political stains off of him.
His third coalition administration resigned in early 2021 due to a controversy involving probes into child welfare payments that incorrectly classified thousands of parents as fraudulent.
A few months later, Rutte demonstrated his survival skills by guiding his conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy to victory in national elections and forming his fourth and final coalition with the same parties that had quit to trigger the vote.
Experience on the global political stage
His years in office have also helped him improve his international talents. At European Union meetings, Rutte established good working connections with important leaders such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron. In addition, he paid visits to Biden and Trump in Washington.
“As a veteran of EU summits, Rutte will bring a different understanding of the complex NATO-EU relation than Stoltenberg,” observed Lungescu. “But he will also need to ensure that the EU’s efforts on defense complement, rather than undermine, NATO at this critical time.”
