Mark Rutte is new NATO Secretary General

This is stated in a press release on the Alliance's website, Ukrinform reports.

“On Wednesday (26 June 2024), the North Atlantic Council decided to appoint Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Mr Rutte will assume his functions as Secretary General from 1 October 2024, when Mr Stoltenberg’s term expires after ten years at the helm of the Alliance,” the statement reads.

As reported, last week Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew his candidacy for NATO Secretary General, thus removing the last obstacle for Mark Rutte.

There is no formal procedure for appointing a NATO summit secretary general, but it requires the consent of all 32 members of the Alliance.

Last year, Stoltenberg confirmed that he had agreed to extend his term of office until October 1, 2024, for the last time.