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NATO allies select Netherlands' Rutte as next secretary general -UPDATED

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General

26 June 2024 13:41 (UTC +04:00)

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, it was noted in the information released by the press service of NATO, APA reports.

"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 information states.

***12:30

NATO allies on Wednesday selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO's next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States' future attitude to the transatlantic alliance, APA reports citing Reuters.

Rutte's appointment became a formality after his only rival for the post, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, announced last week that he had quit the race, having failed to gain traction.

Rutte will replace current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in this post.

It should be noted that Stoltenberg's term of office ends in October.