Dutch liberal Mark Rutteelected as NATO’s new Secretary General this Wednesday, celebrated his appointment as a “tremendous honor” and promised that under his leadership the Alliance “will continue to be the cornerstone of our collective security.”

Briefly reacting to his appointment as the new head of the Alliance, Rutte assured that his position It is “a responsibility you do not take lightly.” and he was honored to be “entrusted” by the organization as a replacement for the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg.

The ambassadors of the 32 countries of the Atlantic Alliance agreed today on the appointment of an acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands the next Secretary General of NATO.

It was a formality after his only rival Romanian Klaus Iohannis retired last week. when it became clear that Rutte had the support of the other 31 members of the military alliance.

The Dutch liberal launched his candidacy for NATO leadership last fall. as America’s favorite candidate, although there were some leaders with whom he clashed during his time as Prime Minister of the Netherlands who initially refused to support him as the next Secretary General, especially of Turkey and Hungary.

When he takes up his new position in October next yearRutte will be the fourth Dutchman to hold the post. after Dirk Stikker, Josef Luns and Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

(EFE)