Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will become NATO’s next secretary general after being selected on Wednesday to succeed Jens Stoltenberg, who will leave the post in October after a decade at the helm of the world’s largest military alliance.
But with challenges ranging from the war in Ukraine to uncertainty over Washington’s position in the alliance and growing tensions with China, the future NATO chief will have his work cut out for him as he takes the reins at a critical time for the organization.
“The alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security,” Rutte said after being appointed following a meeting of the 32-member organization just days before a key NATO leaders’ summit in Washington, which also marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance will mark.
