Nato set to make Dutch PM Mark Rutte new secretary general | BBC News

Mark Rutte, who has been the Netherlands' Prime Minister since 2010, is set to take over as as Nato’s secretary general in October.

The current head, Jens Stoltenberg, will be stepping down on 1 October after holding the position for nearly a decade.

Rutte's support for Ukraine helped win him the favour of key Nato countries including the UK and the US.

On Thursday, his only opponent - Romanian President Klaus Iohannis - pulled out of the race.

Rutte is expected to be confirmed as Nato’s next secretary general over the next few days.

#BBCNews

[catalinacurio]

Sad news that Donald Sutherland has died. A laid back unassuming likeable actor, one of the greats, RIP Donald, you will be sorely missed.

[Nedaist]

Rutte has always been at the service of big capital and an obedient servant!

[Jacko]

How a failed politician gets appointed to such a position, what’s a farce!

[facehugger]

What are his military qualifications exactly? You don't normally appoint somebody like a plumber or a car mechanic as a general in charge of an army do you?

[facehugger]

Geert Wilders would have been a lot better if they wanted somebody Dutch.

[ajrjackson]

Oh but wait, didnt the “conspiracy theorists” predict something like this.

[stekkie]

Big Mistake and forced bij klaus schwab

[Isclachau]

Who cares. The only thing that matters is how Labour is going to tax the living day lights out of us. The BBC needs to find out and tell the population the horrible truth.

[michealkelly]

Why do all these NATO guys look like the Puppets from Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons😂

[Roland_Tr_Swing]

WEF CLOWNS IN CHARGE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS..WE ARE DOOMED.

[Marco-kepl]

the biggest liar ever seen in politics

[jfyhbtm]

Just want to tell what a lot of Dutch people think of Rutte.

He has left the 🇳🇱behind in a complete disaster.

With his sweet smile, bike and apple, hi here and hi there and his smooth talks, he has fooled a lot of people.

Why do you think Wilders got lot of votes? Out of protest being sick of all the Liberal years under Rutte! His party lost the elections big time.
Rutte never had a vision, certainly not for longer time than just before and after the elections. He was even proud of it.

According to all the newspapers who are to lazy to look into things quoting stuff of Rutte his own party....

Rutte once said "No" to Trump visiting the WH😂😂😂 Trump didn't even notice. Check it!

Trump asked Rutte if he was gay because he never married.

Rutte denied that, just to busy working, he said.

I think that's a better qualification and he did a great job after MH17 the most important thing of his career, he said.

A lot of the Dutch people love 🇺🇦 which he supported because of MH17 too.

He went to the WH. Biden said than he would like Rutte to have the job and lateron the government collapsed.
After one year the excuses where a lie too.

But if someone is able to kiss asses, to get what he wants, it's him. 😅

[wagdywilliam]

They are just changing turns. Lay off deceiving others please.

[MaroonedInDub]

So nobody thinks he's any good and they give him the top job.
That's just too complex and intellectual for me to figure.

[markoverwater]

What is the interviewer negatieve and simple
Rutte is the best

[Joey-ctbm]

We are spending 2% of GDP on defense since this year in the Netherlands while giving away aid to Ukraine. He made sure of that. Rutte is also good with Trump.
We gave more money to Ukraine then the Eastern countries overall. The F16s Ukraine is getting is also initiated by Rutte by the way.

A hotheaded Pole would be a bad thing for NATO.

[jonathangammond]

Negotiating coalitions in Dutch politics should be an ideal preparation for dealing between the various members of NATO and their sometimes different interests.

[Worldturnedupsidedown]

Another failure gets a lucrative position

[petermclelland]

We're saved.Hold that finger in lad.Dont move.

[BlackGriffin]

But Rutte failed as Dutch PM. Talk about promoting failures!