Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Today, Tuesday (October 1, 2024), Mark Rutte took office as Secretary General of NATO. He was welcomed at NATO headquarters in Brussels by outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose tenure ends in 10 years. Mr. Rutte and Mr. Stoltenberg laid a wreath during a ceremony at the NATO Memorial for the Martyrs.
Jens Stoltenberg and Mark Rutte
At a special session of the North Atlantic Council, Mr. Stoltenberg officially handed over the office to Secretary General Mark Rutte. "It is a great honor to be here and to assume the office of Secretary General of NATO," Mr. Rutte said before thanking the Allies for entrusting him with the responsibility of guiding the Alliance in the coming years.
Secretary General Rutte outlined his three priorities for the Alliance. "The first is to maintain NATO's strength and ensure that our defenses remain effective and reliable against all threats," he began. “My second priority is to intensify our support for Ukraine and bring it closer to NATO, because there can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong and independent Ukraine,” he continued, adding that “my third priority is to strengthen our partnerships” in a more interconnected world.

The Secretary-General also paid tribute to his predecessor, describing his tenure as “exemplary” and adding that “NATO today is bigger, stronger and more united than ever before, and that is largely due to your leadership.”

In his farewell address, Mr. Stoltenberg praised Mr. Rutte’s pragmatism and consensus-building skills, noting that he “does not compromise on our values ​​and principles.” He also praised his successor’s “personal commitment to our transatlantic bond and your steadfast support for Ukraine.”