New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte downplayed fears of a possible Donald Trump victory in the upcoming US election and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as he takes over the leadership of the world's most powerful military alliance.
The former Dutch prime minister is stepping into a new role at a pivotal time - with Russia continuing its war in Ukraine and China unleashing its growing power - just weeks before voters in the United States go to the polls.
Rutte took over the leadership of the alliance from Norway's Jen Stoltenberg, who led NATO during one of its most turbulent decades.
The outcome of the US presidential election on November 5 will be the first major test for the 57-year-old leader and will be decisive for his initial four-year term at the helm of the alliance.
On the campaign trail, former President Trump threatened not to protect NATO members who don't spend enough on defense and promised he could cut a quick deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
"I'm not worried. I know both candidates very well. I worked for four years with Donald Trump. He was the one pushing us to spend more, and he achieved that," Rutte said before the official handover ceremony. .
"I will be able to work with both of them, whatever the outcome of the election," he added.
With the Dutch veteran statesman, staunch US ally and staunch supporter of Ukraine, the 32 NATO nations have elected a leader who is expected to continue to press for support for Kiev and for efforts to strengthen the alliance's own defenses in the face of Russia's aggression.
"NATO will be in safe hands with you at the helm," Stoltenberg stressed.
Rutte has listed support for Kiev as one of his top priorities, along with ensuring NATO continues to spend more on defense and strengthening ties with partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We need to make sure that Ukraine wins as a sovereign, independent and democratic country," he said.
The uncertainty over future Western support for Ukraine comes as Russian forces advance on the battlefield more than three and a half years after the Kremlin's full-scale invasion.
At a summit in July, NATO, whose members have supplied 99% of all foreign weapons to Ukraine, agreed to play a greater role in supplying those weapons. Rutte will have a key role in managing the aid.
- "Let's spend more" -
Another major task for Rutte will be to urge NATO members to spend more on their militaries to counter any potential threat from Moscow.
Spurred on by the war in Ukraine - and by pressure from Washington - European countries have already increased their defense spending. This year, 23 countries will meet NATO's target of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on their military forces. But with the threat from Russia expected to continue for years - regardless of the outcome in Ukraine - there is a clear understanding that more funds will be needed.
"We have to spend more. We need to increase our collective defense," Rütte snapped.
This may prove to be a difficult task for him. The Dutchman only saw his own country hit the 2% target in the 14th and final year of his term. Even if he wants to change NATO's direction, Rutte is likely to find it difficult to shake up an alliance based on careful consensus among its members.
Stoltenberg, whose mandate has been extended three times, has been balancing carefully as NATO reinvigorates itself in the face of Russian aggression.
The former Norwegian prime minister told his successor that his biggest challenge was to keep all (sometimes quarrelsome) NATO leaders on the same page.
"One thing will not change and that is NATO's core mission, which is to make sure that we protect our people, our nations and, of course, our values," Rutte said. | BGNES, AFP
