It is testament to the skills of former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte as an adroit handler of political relationships that he’s managed to persuade a fractious 32-state Nato to back his candidacy for secretary general unanimously. The alliance has no formal naming process. As a pretty high bar, unanimity is the sole requirement.
The final piece in Rutte’s seven-month campaign fell into place on Thursday evening when his last serious opponent, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, withdrew from the race. By the weekend, Rutte (57) was being hailed by outgoing secretary general Jens Stoltenberg as a “friend” who “believes strongly in the transatlantic bond”, adding: “Nato will be in very good hands given that Mark Rutte is going to be the next secretary general”. Although the organisation celebrates its 75th anniversary at a summit in Washington DC next month, there are suggestions that Nato ambassadors may make an announcement this week, allowing Rutte to join the celebrations as heir-designate.
READ MORE Mark Rutte’s reputation as a consensus builder will be tested as soon as he takes charges of Nato Macron gambles on France: ‘People don’t understand why he did this’ When the only escape from war in Gaza is to buy a way out Iran’s reformist candidate jolts presidential race with nuclear pitch A man who once said he saw himself as “a manager” rather than “a visionary”, Rutte will be the fourth Dutch leader of Nato, following Dirk Stikker (1961-.
