New NATO chief vows greater support for Ukraine

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ex- Dutch premier Mark Rutte has assumed charge as NATO’s 14th secretary general, replacing Jens Stoltenberg.

Rutte took over from the outgoing Norwegian diplomat, the longest-serving NATO chief, at a ceremony at the alliance headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, TASS reported.

The incoming bloc’s chief promised to prioritise moves to beef up the Western military alliance and lend greater support to Ukraine.

On X, European Commission,  European Council and European Parliament presidents conveyed their greetings to the new NATO chief.

The Dutchman will have to keep the 32 allies together to continue supporting Kyiv while avoiding an escalation with Moscow, according to Bloomberg.

Rutte will walk a tightrope smoothing wrinkles in NATO’s relationship with the EU, as the bloc wants to boost its defence.

PAN Monitor/mud