Mark Rutte will have to face threats from within and outside NATO | Wilnesh News

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was sworn in as NATO’s new secretary-general on Tuesday, and his leadership will soon be tested as the alliance faces external threats and vulnerabilities within the alliance.

Rutte has been a figurehead in Dutch politics for decades and served as prime minister from 2010 to 2024, with a reputation as a consummate diplomat and consensus builder able to keep different parties and lawmakers on side.

Rutte, nicknamed “Teflon Mark,” has been adept at avoiding domestic political crises throughout his career, and he may need those skills — as well as his adeptness at managing often thorny geopolitical figures and relationships — to navigate A test of the NATO alliance.

The EU faces not only the ongoing challenge of the Russia-Ukraine war – a conflict that shows no sign of ending as Russia commits more troops and spending – but also heightened tensions with superpower China and “rogue states” North Korea and Iran.

Western military blocs also face domestic uncertainties, the most important of which is next month’s U.S. presidential election and the possibility of former President Trump’s re-election. and coalition military operations.

Rutte said on Tuesday he would put his powers of persuasion into practice in his new role as he seeks to encourage NATO’s 32 members to increase defense spending – a long-standing issue among members While conditions in Member States have generally improved in recent years, data show — and maintain the transatlantic relationship in the alliance “rock solid.”

“As secretary-general, I will work on three main priorities,” Rutte said as he took over power from Jens Stoltenberg at a handover ceremony in Brussels.

“The first is to keep NATO strong and ensure that our defenses remain effective and credible against all threats. To do this, we need more forces with better capabilities and faster innovation, which requires more investment because more needs to be done. There are so many things going on, we have to spend more money,” he said. “There is no free alternative,” he added.

Rutte said his second priority was to strengthen support for Ukraine and “bring it closer to NATO,” adding that European security relied on a “strong, independent Ukraine.” Rutte said his third priority was to strengthen partnerships within the alliance, especially with the EU and countries around the world that share similar values. “Our security must be a team effort,” Rutte said.

Commenting on the threat posed by Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly warned that Moscow was willing to use nuclear weapons if its territory was threatened by Western powers backing Ukraine, Rutte said he did not see any immediate risk.

“We often hear threats from the Kremlin, and Putin’s nuclear rhetoric is indeed reckless and irresponsible, but at the same time let me make absolutely clear that we do not see any imminent threats,” Rutte told reporters late Tuesday. Threat of nuclear weapons.

“As NATO secretary-general, Rutte will face a different set of challenges than when he was prime minister,” said Amida Vanrighi, senior fellow for the European Program at Chatham House. Last week’s analysis said.

“Externally, there is a revisionist Russia and an assertive China. Internally, there are democratic challenges and a depletion of military supplies within the alliance. The alliance has just gone through a period of transformation and developed new regional plans through new force models, but it still There is such a problem.

Oana Lungescu, a distinguished fellow at the Royal United Services Institute defense and security think tank and a former NATO spokesperson, commented that when it comes to defense spending, Rutte must “make a strong argument not only in terms of numbers and percentages” , and make a strong case for defense spending.” The specific capabilities needed to ensure NATO national security in a dangerous world,” she said in emailed comments on Monday.

The possibility of another U.S. administration led by former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump also poses a potential challenge to Rutte, although he insisted on Monday that he would be happy to work with Trump or Vice President Kamala Harry He said he has a good relationship with Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I’m not worried. I know both candidates very well,” Rutte told reporters, adding: “I worked with Donald Trump for four years. He was the one who pushed us to increase (defense) spending. Man, he achieved something because it was.

“Kamala Harris has a great record as vice president. She’s a well-respected leader, so I’ll be able to work with both,” he said.

Despite Rutte’s conciliatory stance, there is no doubt that Trump has a combative relationship with NATO. During his final term from 2017 to 2021, Trump lambasted multiple member states for not complying Pledge in 2014 to spend 2% of total domestic profits on defense spending.

As he campaigned to return to the presidency, Trump again angered NATO members in February when he said he would not provide military protection to any member that failed to meet its financial obligations to the alliance and would even “encourage” adversaries to “do whatever they want.” ”. They want” that country.

The comments sparked outrage at the White House They were described at the time as “shocking and deranged”. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg responded: “Any suggestion that we are not protecting and defending all our allies undermines the security of all of us and puts our soldiers and personnel on the front lines protecting the entire Alliance at risk. Danger.

Rutte – described by RUSI analyst Longescu as “a steady hand to lead NATO through testing times” – may be wary of Trump, but a second Republican term may not be possible for NATO Predicted.

“Like Stoltenberg, Rutte is also known as the ‘Trump whisperer’. He is one of the few European politicians to have a good working relationship with Donald Trump,” commented RUSI’s Longescu .

“However, a second Trump term could be even more damaging, with reduced U.S. aid to Ukraine, increased concessions to Russia and further questioning of NATO’s value.”