Former Dutch PM Rutte takes NATO reins, doubles down on Ukraine support and warns China

BELFAST — Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister, officially took charge of NATO today, succeeding longtime leader Jens Stoltenberg as the alliance’s new secretary general, during a handover ceremony in Brussels. In his first address to members gathered at NATO headquarters, he said that his main priority will be “to keep NATO strong and ensure our defenses remain effective and credible against all threats.”

Additionally, Rutte pledged to “step up” support for Ukraine and “bring it ever closer to NATO,” echoing consistent messaging from his predecessor that the country will eventually join the alliance, though there is still no timetable for membership.

Rutte arrives in his leadership role with Ukraine facing a third winter of war against Russia and as Moscow continues to make territorial gains in parts of eastern Ukraine.

“Supporting Ukraine is the right thing to do, and it is also an investment in our own security, because an independent and democratic Ukraine is vital for peace and stability in Europe,” Rutte told media, following the handover ceremony. “The cost of supporting Ukraine is far, far lower than the cost we would face if we allow Putin to get his way.”

Rutte’s stewardship of the alliance’s backing for Ukraine will be forced to reckon with a geopolitical delimma: despite intense lobbying by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US is still unwilling to give Kyiv permission to use Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) long-range weapons against targets inside Russia, denying it the opportunity to strike aircraft and airfields of tactical importance. London has similarly refused to allow MBDA Storm Shadow long-range air launched cruise missiles to be operated in such a manner.

“I understand Ukraine’s request … but in the end it is up to each ally to decide what they want to do,” Rutte said. “When I look at the particular allies which are involved here … for example, the United States and their leadership, have spent billions of dollars to support Ukraine’s right to self defense. Let’s be clear, Ukraine likely would not exist as a country today without US support.”

US President Joe Biden welcomed Rutte to his new post, in a statement today, describing him as a “consensus-builder and decisive leader.” Biden added that he had “full confidence” in Rutte’s ability to “build on our work to create a NATO that is stronger, larger, and more resolute than ever.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rutte called for “significantly more defense spending” across the alliance, alongside “better-equipped forces, a more robust transatlantic defense industry, increased defense production capacity” and “greater investment in innovation and secure supply chains.”

He has been criticised in the past for the failure of the Netherlands to reach the NATO spending target of 2 percent GDP under his watch and admitted, “We should have done this earlier.”

NATO defense expenditure forecasts [PDF] put The Hague on track to hit the 2 percent mark this year. Earlier this month, the Netherlands also vowed to spend an extra €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) on defense, lifting annual military spending to €24 billion.

In spite of urging allies to increase defense spending, he paid tribute to efforts underway by member nations to invest in new equipment, including “plans to acquire thousands of air defense and artillery systems, many hundreds of modern aircraft, mostly fifth generation F-35 [jets], as well as substantial high end capabilities.”

In a warning to China, Rutte said that Beijing “cannot continue to fuel the largest conflict in Europe since the second world war without this impacting its interests and reputation.” He condemned China’s propping up of Russia’s military industry, in the wake of US officials judging that the Indo-Pacific adversary is responsible for helping Moscow produce drones and boosting space-based capabilities.

On EU matters, Rutte also noted the “potential to boost” cooperation with the bloc, in particular on support for Ukraine and countering hybrid warfare threats.

He also plans on strengthening cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners and shared that “later this month” Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea will take part in a NATO defense ministerial meeting for the first time.

Having earned the nickname “Teflon Mark” for avoiding political scandal throughout his career as a Dutch lawmaker, Rutte is said to be particularly skilled at building improbable partnerships.

Patrick Bolder, a defense analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies think tank and retired lieutenant colonel from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, previously told Breaking Defense that Rutte is often referred to in Dutch circles as the “little oil man” who “greases all the wheels in the machinery, so they can run smoothly.”