Stoltenberg officially handed over powers of NATO SecGen to Rutte

Jens Stoltenberg has officially handed over the powers of the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the broadcast of the ceremony.

“I am handing over the position to you, Mark... I am handing you this gavel of the NATO chairman and inviting you to sit in the chair and take over the chairmanship of the North Atlantic Council,” Stoltenberg said.

Rutte is the new NATO Secretary General

Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly expressed his desire to step down as NATO Secretary General, but finding a worthy successor has proven to be a difficult task.

NATO member states considered several candidates, including British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, but his candidacy was not supported by the United States.

In the end, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was elected as NATO Secretary General. However, not immediately, but after lengthy negotiations and overcoming the disagreement of Hungary, Turkey, and Slovakia, his candidacy was supported by all allies.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 01/10/2024