New NATO boss Rutte pledges support for Ukraine
(VOVWORLD) - NATO's new chief Mark Rutte voiced strong support for Ukraine on Tuesday and said he was not worried about the upcoming US election as he could work with former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.
 Jens Stoltenberg (R) shakes hands with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 1, 2024. (REUTERS/Yves Herman) |
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, took over from Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general just weeks before the Nov. 5 US presidential vote that pits Democrat Harris against Republican Trump.
NATO estimates that 23 of its 32 members will meet its target of spending at least 2% of GDP on defence this year, compared to just three countries a decade ago.
Signalling continuity with Stoltenberg, Rutte said he had three main priorities - making sure NATO had the capabilities to protect against any threat, supporting Ukraine and addressing global challenges by working with partners "near and far".
One of Rutte's key tasks will be to persuade NATO members to come up with the extra troops, weapons and spending to fully realise the new defence plans, diplomats and analysts say.