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| Dutch PM Mark Rutte |
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be NATO's next secretary-general after being selected Wednesday as the successor of Jens Stoltenberg who will leave the position in October following a decade at the helm of the world's largest military alliance.
But
with challenges ranging from the war in Ukraine to uncertainty about
Washington's position in the alliance and growing tensions with China, the
future NATO chief will have his work cut out for him as he takes the reins at a
critical juncture for the organization.
“The
alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security,” Rutte said
after being appointed following a meeting of the 32-member organization, only
days ahead of a key NATO leaders' summit in Washington that will also mark the
alliance’s 75th anniversary.
The Dutch leader, who has the backing of the United States and most other
big member states, emerged as the sole candidate
after his final challenger, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, dropped out of
the race last week.
Hungary also lifted its objections after Rutte pledged that
Budapest would not be obligated to send personnel or provide funds for a new
Ukraine support plan.
The
Dutchman is regarded by many as an experienced statesman and a dedicated
Atlanticist. After having led several Dutch coalition governments since 2010,
the 57-year-old has accumulated a wealth of experience, diplomatic skills and
contacts both in Europe and across the globe.
Those
skills are critical for a job that focuses on managing a large organization,
explaining NATO to global audiences and building consensus. The latter is
particularly important as key decisions require all 32 allies to agree.
“One
of Rutte’s strongest arguments in his campaign to secure the job was his record
of building effective working relationships with people from across the
political spectrum,” said James Black, assistant director of defense at Rand
Europe, part of the nonprofit Rand Corp. think tank.
This
included charting a way to a pragmatic compromise even with leaders whose
politics he may not personally share. He did this not only at home, where he
managed difficult political coalitions, but also internationally, where he has
been at the forefront of international negotiations on issues such as boosting
support for Ukraine.
For Rutte, the road ahead will be fraught with challenges.
With
the war in Ukraine raging and Russia making battlefield gains, his immediate
priority will be to maintain any momentum coming out of next month’s summit in
Washington, particularly in terms of NATO’s growing support for Kyiv, all the
while guarding the alliance from a direct confrontation with Moscow.
NATO
recently agreed to launch a 700-personnel command center next month in Germany
to coordinate international weapons deliveries and training activities, efforts
that are also meant to bring Ukraine closer to NATO standards.
The
alliance is also considering a long-term financial pledge of at least €40
billion ($42.7 billion) per year for Kyiv in a bid to institutionalize
long-term support.
As
a Dutch leader, Rutte was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin
and a staunch supporter of Kyiv, so there is every expectation that this will
continue in his new role.
However,
it is unclear whether Rutte’s tenure will eventually see Ukraine joining the
alliance, given the many practical and political barriers. Nevertheless, there
is growing recognition within the organization of the need to match NATO’s
rhetoric with more concrete actions.
There
is increasing talk of building a “bridge” to Ukraine’s NATO membership, with
the hope being that more details will soon emerge “on the conditions under
which such membership might occur and the practical steps to speed that along,”
Black said.
Such
an endeavor would be in line with a nonbinding, 10-year security agreement
Washington and Kyiv signed two weeks ago that saw the two pledge to
advance reforms needed for Ukraine’s accession to both NATO and the European
Union.
Meanwhile,
Rutte will have to ensure that previously agreed initiatives are implemented,
including those meant to boost defense technology innovation, deepen ties with
Indo-Pacific countries, and ramp up military spending and production.
These
issues remain critical as the alliance faces a rapidly changing set of global
strategic challenges, including its potential role in the growing Sino-U.S.
rivalry.
“Rutte
will have to make sure that NATO is ready for war and willing to step up
cooperation with the EU on common interests such as Ukraine support and defense
production,” said Jamie Shea, a former NATO deputy assistant secretary-general
for emergency security challenges.
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