Mark Rutte Appointed as New NATO Secretary General – Stoltenberg Congratulates Successor

The North Atlantic Council today confirmed Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands as the new NATO Secretary General. This is stated on the Alliance's website.

"On Wednesday (26 June 2024), the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next NATO Secretary General, replacing Jens Stoltenberg. Rutte will assume his duties as Secretary General on 1 October 2024, when Stoltenberg's term of office expires after ten years at the helm of the Alliance," the statement said.

The current NATO Secretary General welcomed the choice.

"I warmly welcome the Allies' choice of Foreign Minister Mark Rutte as my successor. Mark is a true transatlanticist, a strong leader and a consensus builder. I wish him every success in further strengthening NATO," said Stoltenberg. 

He added that he is leaving NATO in good hands.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte commented on his appointment as NATO Secretary General.

He thanked all Allies for their confidence in his candidacy and added that he was looking forward to taking up his new post.

He wrote about this on Twitter.

"The Alliance is and will remain the cornerstone of our collective security. Leading this organisation is a responsibility that I do not take lightly," he said.

Mark Rutte added that he has always admired the current head of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, who "has provided NATO with outstanding leadership over the past 10 years".