Rutte, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is set to succeed Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, bringing an end to Stoltenberg's decade-long leadership of the alliance.
According to The Business Insider, Rutte's tenure as the Secretary-General commences at a critical juncture for NATO, with the U.S. presidential election on the horizon and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The 57-year-old Dutch leader, known for his longevity in office, will be steering the alliance through these tumultuous times.
Philippe Dickinson, the deputy director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, described Rutte's upcoming challenges as "daunting." He stated, "He will have to contend with reinforcing defense and deterrence across the Alliance in the face of a hostile and bellicose Russia, helping Ukraine to defeat Russia and welcoming Kyiv into the Alliance, and establishing NATO's role in dealing with the rising challenge posed by China." Dickinson further emphasized the need for NATO to adapt to rapid technological changes without neglecting its counterterrorism and crisis management responsibilities.
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Rutte's assumption of office will be closely followed by the U.S. election, adding another layer of complexity to his role. However, the Dutch leader is no stranger to President Trump. He has even earned the moniker "Trump whisperer" for his ability to pacify the former President during a 2018 NATO meeting, where Trump threatened to take the U.S. its "own way" if other countries did not increase their military spending.
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Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, suggested that Rutte's temperament and experience could be instrumental in "Trump-proofing" NATO, should Trump win the upcoming election. She described Rutte as "cool, calm, and collected," and praised his ability to manage large egos, his previous interactions with Trump, and his understanding of the need for European allies to shoulder more of the security burden.
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Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, echoed this sentiment, describing Rutte as "a consensus builder" and "a person with a track record of improving his country's defense burdensharing efforts."
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Rutte's support for Ukraine has been unwavering, and he has been instrumental in driving European military support for the country since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. His stance was significantly influenced by the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, which resulted in the death of 196 Dutch nationals, an incident in which Russia is believed to have played a key role.
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In a 2022 statement about Putin, Rutte declared, "He won't stop at Ukraine if we don't stop him now. This war is bigger than Ukraine itself. It's about upholding the international rule of law." As he steps into his new role, Rutte's commitment to upholding international law and his dedication to strengthening NATO's defense capabilities will undoubtedly shape the alliance's strategy in the face of ongoing global challenges.
