Biden voices his support for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to lead NATO

WORLD, Feb. 22 (YPA) – US President Joe Biden is supporting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next NATO secretary general, Politico newspaper reported, quoting  a US official as saying on Wednesday.

The newspaper noted that “Biden supports… Rutte to become the next Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance.”

It pointed out that two-thirds of NATO member countries support the nomination of the Dutch Prime Minister. However, NATO requires consensus to make this decision.

Stoltenberg was supposed to leave his position as NATO Secretary General on October 1, 2022, but in March of the same year, NATO leaders decided during their summit to extend Stoltenberg’s term until September 30, 2023, due to events related to Ukraine.

Afterward, in July, it was announced that he would remain in his position for another year, until October 1, 2024.

Stoltenberg, whose term is 9 years, still ranks second as the longest-serving NATO Secretary-General.

E.M