After a long blockade

NATO officially appoints Rutte as Secretary General

The Dutchman takes over the post in a difficult phase of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.(Bild: AFP/AFP )

NATO intends to officially appoint outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the new Secretary General on Wednesday. According to diplomatic circles in Brussels, the ambassadors of the 32 member states will make the nomination during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

The 57-year-old Rutte is then expected to take over from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on October 1.

Only last week, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis had cleared the way for Rutte to head NATO by withdrawing his candidacy.

The Dutchman takes over the post in a difficult phase of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. NATO is also preparing for the possible re-election of former US President Donald Trump and a weaker US role in the transatlantic alliance.

The Dutchman is taking over the post during a difficult phase of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.(Bild: AFP/AFP )

Broad support for Rutte
The USA, Germany, Great Britain and France had already campaigned for Rutte in February. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for example, stated that the Dutchman was an "outstanding candidate" with his "immense experience, his great security policy expertise and his strong diplomatic skills".

Blockade by Hungary, Romania
Last Tuesday, after months of blockade, Hungary and Slovakia gave up their opposition to Rutte, followed by Romania on Thursday of the previous week.