unsaveSave
expand-left
full screen The Netherlands’ former Prime Minister Mark Rutte is now taking over as Secretary General of NATO. Stock photo. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP/TT
The Jens Stoltenberg era is over. Now Dutch Mark Rutte takes over in NATO.
– He has the perfect background, says Stoltenberg.
The outgoing Secretary General will hand over to the new one at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
– Mark is a friend, a good colleague. We have worked closely together for many years. He knows NATO well and is well known throughout the alliance, Stoltenberg notes, side by side with Rutte on his way into the building.
Rutte responds with similar kind words.
– Thank you for the friendship over all the years. You have steered this alliance on the right course during turbulent years. Thanks to you, the alliance is bigger and stronger than ever, says the Dutchman, who stepped down as prime minister at home this summer after 14 years in that job.
Rutte states that the situation in Ukraine is still “at the top of the agenda” for NATO. At the same time, both the outgoing and the incoming Secretary-General turn worried eyes towards the Middle East.
– Naturally, we closely follow what is happening in Lebanon. However, NATO has no role of its own there, says Rutte.
– We are of course very worried. We support the efforts of NATO members who are working to de-escalate the situation, says Stoltenberg.