NATO's Next Chief: Dutch PM Mark Rutte Poised to Succeed Jens Stoltenberg

In a significant development, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the next Secretary-General of NATO, according to a report by Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The news comes after Hungary and Slovakia backed Rutte's candidacy, paving the way for his appointment to the top job.

Speaking at a news conference alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, Stoltenberg neither confirmed nor denied the media report, but praised Rutte as a "very strong candidate" with a lot of experience as prime minister. "I think Mark is a close friend and colleague, and I therefore strongly believe that very soon, the alliance will have decided on my successor," he said.

Rutte's appointment is significant, given his strong stance against Russia and his support for Ukraine. As prime minister, he has been a driving force behind Europe's military support to Ukraine, stressing the need for a Russian battlefield defeat to secure peace in Europe. Under his leadership, the Netherlands has ramped up defense spending above the 2% threshold of GDP required of NATO members, providing F-16 fighter jets, artillery, drones, and ammunition to Kyiv.

Why it Matters : Rutte's appointment comes at a critical time for NATO, as the alliance faces the challenge of sustaining allies' support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion. The next secretary-general will need to navigate the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine and avoiding escalation that could draw NATO directly into a war with Moscow. Rutte's experience and strong stance against Russia make him well-suited to take on this challenge.

Hungary's backing of Rutte's candidacy followed a meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Stoltenberg last week, where the two sides agreed that Hungary would not block NATO decisions on providing support for Ukraine. Orban had earlier opposed Rutte's candidacy due to his "problematic" opinions, including the idea that Hungary should leave the European Union.

Turkey and Slovakia have also changed course on Rutte's bid, with Turkey saying it would support him in late April and Slovakia announcing its support earlier on Tuesday. Slovakia, which borders Ukraine, had stressed the need for the next NATO chief to help deal with the protection of Slovak airspace.

Stoltenberg's term will end on October 1, 10 years after taking office in 2014, just a few months after Russia annexed Crimea. During his tenure, Stoltenberg oversaw NATO's shift from an alliance mainly engaged in crisis management missions in far-off places such as Afghanistan back to its roots of defense against Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the next Secretary-General of NATO.
• Rutte's appointment is significant due to his strong stance against Russia and support for Ukraine.
• The next secretary-general will face the challenge of sustaining allies' support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.
• Rutte's experience and strong stance against Russia make him well-suited to take on this challenge.
• NATO's decision to appoint Rutte as its next chief will have significant implications for the alliance's future direction and response to Russia's aggression.