From The Hague to NATO
27 June 2024
NATO has a new boss. Yesterday, the outgoing and longest-serving Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, was officially selected to be the defence alliance's new general-secretary. He will take over NATO’s leadership on 1 October. While Rutte is praised internationally for his staunch Atlanticism and defence of Ukraine, he's seen differently in his home country.
In the Netherlands, Rutte earned the nickname ‘Teflon Mark’ for his ability to dodge scandals and keep coming out on top during elections, like a true master of survival. A pragmatic dealmaker, he skillfully navigated through fractious coalitions to keep the show running, and won Dutch voters over with his no-nonsense, down-to-earth style.
However, he's been frequently criticised for his shifting views, lack of a clear vision, elusive optimism and tendency to try to please everyone, as well as his convenient amnesia when things go awry. He is also famous for his rhetorical ingenuity and verbal agility, which often enabled him to evade direct answers and sow confusion during discussions with political opponents or journalists.
 | Nathan Domon Rutte's consensus-building skills, ideological flexibility and consensual style might well be what NATO needs at the moment, as the war in Ukraine rages and uncertainty hangs over the United States' future stance towards the transatlantic alliance. A veteran of EU summits, he is also among the few EU leaders who have developed a strong working relationship with Donald Trump, earning him the nickname 'Trump whisperer' in international media. |
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