Former Dutch PM to lead military bloc amid increasing global tensions over wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
NATO must ensure that Ukraine prevails in its war against Russia, said the new head of the transatlantic military alliance after he took charge.
Mark Rutte called Ukraine his “number one priority” as he formally became Nato secretary-general at a ceremony in Brussels on Tuesday.
The former Dutch prime minister took over the job from Jens Stoltenberg more than three months after the alliance’s 32 members appointed him.
Stating that he “can’t wait to get to work,” Rutte told reporters: “We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation.”
He also noted that, with the growing war between Israel and Hezbollah, monitoring the situation in Lebanon is also at the top of his list.
The new NATO chief also claimed he is not worried about the upcoming presidential election in the United States as he could work with either candidate.
Some went as far as suggesting that the Republican candidate, former US President Donald Trump, might cut support to Ukraine or water down security guarantees for some NATO members if he returned to the White House following the elections in November.
