Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has officially succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General, marking a leadership transition at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Rutte, the 14th Secretary General of the alliance, emphasized unity in his first press conference and addressed Türkiye’s concerns about the fight against terrorism. He stated that he had ongoing discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and stressed their close relationship and shared views on counterterrorism.

In his farewell speech, Stoltenberg highlighted NATO’s significant growth during his tenure, including increased defense spending, enhanced military readiness, and expanded membership. He noted that Ukraine is now closer to NATO than ever, and NATO-EU cooperation has reached new heights.