THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Over the course of more than a dozen years at the top of Dutch politics, Mark Rutte has honed his skills in finding consensus among fractious coalition partners. Now, he’s on track to bring his extensive experience leading four Dutch multiparty governments to the international stage as NATO’s new secretary general.

Path to NATO Leadership

On Thursday, Romania’s president withdrew from the race for the alliance’s top job, leaving Rutte as the sole remaining candidate. His appointment is all but certain to head the world’s largest military organization from October. Rutte’s confirmation could be finalized by a meeting of NATO ambassadors in the coming days or at the summit in Washington on July 9-11, where President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts will gather.

The secretary general’s role involves chairing meetings and guiding sometimes delicate consultations among the 32 NATO member countries, ensuring that the organization, which operates on consensus, continues to function effectively. The NATO leader also ensures that decisions are implemented and speaks on behalf of all members.

Diplomatic Skills in Action

Even before taking over from Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte has been tested. Securing the role of NATO chief required all of his diplomatic skills, as he persuaded doubters, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to support his candidacy.

“Like Stoltenberg, Rutte is a pragmatist and one of the few European politicians to have developed a good working relationship not just with Joe Biden, but also with Donald Trump. That could prove a key asset for NATO after the November US presidential election,” said Oana Lungescu, a former chief NATO spokesperson.

Rutte “is seen as a safe pair of hands to lead NATO in turbulent times, just as Stoltenberg has done for the last decade,” Lungescu, now a Fellow with the defense and security think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, told The Associated Press.

From History Scholar to Political Leader

A history graduate and former human resources manager at consumer products multinational Unilever, Rutte became prime minister of the Netherlands for the first time in October 2010. He resigned last July as his four-party coalition wrangled over how to rein in migration.

Despite being one of Europe’s top politicians for years, Rutte has remained down to earth. He is often seen riding his bicycle around his hometown of The Hague or walking from his office to a meeting, eating an apple. When he handed in his government’s resignation to King Willem-Alexander last year, he drove to the ornate royal palace in a Saab station wagon.

Strong Support for Ukraine

While he was Dutch prime minister, Rutte was a staunch supporter of Ukraine and its right to defend itself after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Under his leadership, the Netherlands pledged military hardware to Kyiv, including Leopard tanks and F-16 fighter jets.

Political Resilience

Rutte’s political career hasn’t been all smooth sailing. He was so adept at preventing political stains from sticking to him that he earned the nickname Teflon Mark. His third coalition government resigned in early 2021 over a scandal involving investigations into child welfare payments that wrongly labeled thousands of parents as fraudsters. A few months later, Rutte proved himself a master of survival by leading his conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy to victory in national elections and cobbling together his fourth and final coalition from the same parties that resigned to trigger the vote.

International Experience

His years in office have also honed his skills on the international stage. At European Union summits, Rutte developed strong working relationships with powerful leaders such as former German chancellor Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron. He’s also visited Biden and Trump in Washington.

NATO-EU Relations

“As a veteran of EU summits, Rutte will bring a different understanding of the complex NATO-EU relation than Stoltenberg,” said Lungescu. “But he will also need to ensure that the EU’s efforts on defense complement, rather than undermine NATO at this critical time.”

Defense Spending

While the Netherlands under Rutte’s leadership long failed to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of its GDP on defense, the Dutch are expected to edge past the mark this year. NATO estimates suggest the Netherlands will spend 2.05% of its GDP, up from around 1.2% a decade ago when the allies pledged to ramp up their military budgets after Russia annexed Crimea.

Conclusion

Mark Rutte’s extensive experience in Dutch and international politics, coupled with his diplomatic skills and pragmatic approach, positions him as a capable leader for NATO in the coming years. His ability to build consensus among diverse coalition partners and navigate complex international relationships will be crucial as he takes on the role of NATO secretary general in an increasingly turbulent global landscape.