Mark Rutte officially succeeds Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General

Rutte was elected Secretary General of the world's most powerful military and political alliance on June 26, but has now officially assumed the role. 

Rutte served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands for nearly 14 years, becoming the first liberal to lead the country's government in 92 years . He is known for his political deal-making skills and as a fierce critic of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and a staunch ally of Ukraine. 

Rutte grew up in The Hague and had initially aspired to become a pianist, but ended up studying history at Leiden University. He became involved in politics as a leader of the youth organization Freedom and Democracy and later joined the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, a Dutch conservative-liberal political force.

Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Rutte held various positions at Unilever and its subsidiaries in the food and household chemicals markets. He also gained experience as a member of the Dutch Parliament and served in several cabinets under Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

During his time as Prime Minister, Rutte faced numerous political challenges, including a record-long parliamentary coalition formation and the forced resignation of the government due to the childcare benefit scandal. In 2023, he announced his retirement from Dutch national politics after the anti-European far-right Freedom Party won the elections.

Rutte had ambitions in international politics and became a top candidate for the position of NATO Secretary General. He won the support of key allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. In June 2024, his only rival, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, dropped out of the race, leading to Rutte's election as Secretary General by the ambassadors of 32 NATO countries.