Former Dutch PM Mark Rutte takes over as new NATO chief, voices strong support for war-torn Ukraine

Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday (Oct 1) took over as the new chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).Rutte took over from Jens Stoltenberg asNATOsecretary-general.

"I'm determined to prepareNATOfor the challenges of the future," Rutte said.

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Stoltenberg, the former prime minister of Norway, stepped down as boss of the 32-member military alliance after a turbulent decade marked above all by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Rutte voices strong support for Ukraine

Rutte voiced strong support for Ukraine and pointed out that there could be "no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine." He added that he wanted to step up the military alliance's support for Kyiv and bring it even closer to NATO.

"We must sustain this support into the future, because Ukraine's rightful place is inNATO," he added.

His appointment as the new NATO boss came as Russiapressed on with the war and there was uncertainty overfuture Western support for Ukraine and growing calls for a resolution to the conflict.

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NATO, whose members have supplied 99 per cent of all foreign weaponry to Ukraine, agreed at a summit in July this year to play a bigger role in delivering those arms and Rutte will be key in stewarding support, a report by the news agency AFP said.

'Not worried about upcoming US presidential election'

Rutte also said on Tuesday that he was not worried about the upcoming November 5 presidential election in the United States (US). Rutte pointed out that he could work with Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.

"I worked for four years with Donald Trump. He was the one pushing us to spend more (on defence), and he achieved because indeed, at the moment, we are now at a much higher spending level than we were when he took office," Rutte added.

"Kamala Harris has a fantastic record as vice president. She's a highly respected leader, so I will be able to work with both," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)