After ten years main the North Atlantic Treaty Group, Jens Stoltenberg right this moment resigned as secretary-general(1), handing over management of the protection alliance to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte ), right now NATO is dealing with some challenges.
Stoltenberg and Rutte have identified one another for 14 years since they served as leaders of Norway and the Netherlands.
They gave a “heat welcome” outdoors NATO’s Brussels headquarters and laid wreaths to the fallen troopers, surrounded by the flags of the 32 member states.
ABC Information:
“‘Mark has the proper background to be an awesome secretary-general,'” a visibly emotional Stoltenberg mentioned as he concluded his ten-year time period.
Stoltenberg mentioned, “He has been prime minister for 14 years and has led 4 completely different coalition governments, so he is aware of how you can make compromises and attain consensus, and these abilities are very worthwhile in NATO.” Rutte mentioned he ‘cannot wait to get to work’.
READ: Outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte to be new NATO secretary-general after Hungary and Slovakia pledge assist
Within the corridor the place the North Atlantic Council met, Stoltenberg offered him with a Viking gavel to make use of when he chaired the assembly.
“Rutte mentioned his prime precedence was NATO’s assist for Ukraine because the struggle enters its third yr, growing protection spending and strengthening the alliance’s partnerships with different international locations around the globe, notably in Asia and the Center East.”
Rutte confused the significance of sustaining a powerful transatlantic alliance between america, Canada and Europe.
He reiterated that he would work nicely with whoever is elected to the White Home.
However Rutte mentioned: ‘I do know each candidates very nicely.’ He praised Trump for pushing NATO allies to spend extra and take a more durable stance on China. He additionally praised Vice President Kamala Harris’ “glorious report.” , and described her as a “well-respected chief” who I will work with whatever the election consequence, Rutte mentioned.
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When Rutte took workplace, the struggle in Ukraine was approaching 1,000 days, and Russia had made nice progress in Donbass.
“And not using a robust, impartial Ukraine, there may be no lasting safety in Europe,” he mentioned in his first speech since taking workplace, confirming a 2008 pledge by the group’s leaders that “Ukraine can have a powerful function in NATO.” have authorized standing”. “
For the reason that struggle started, NATO has expanded to 32 international locations with the addition of Finland and Sweden “Looking for safety from Russia below the NATO safety umbrella.”
In the meantime, in Russia, they don’t anticipate new NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte to vary coverage.
Reuters reviews:
““Our expectation is that the North Atlantic Alliance will proceed to work within the course it has been going,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters. He bought to know Rutte very nicely throughout the assembly.
“At one time, there was hope {that a} good pragmatic relationship can be established – a minimum of there can be such a dialogue – however then we discovered that the Netherlands had adopted a quite irreconcilable place, one which fully dominated out any engagement with our nation”, he mentioned.
“In consequence, we don’t imagine there will likely be any important new modifications within the league’s insurance policies.”
Learn extra:
Dutch Prime Minister Rutte urges European leaders to “cease complaining about Trump” and says NATO should “work with anybody on the dance flooring”
