A strong leader who can build universal consent – that's how Jens Stoltenberg, who resigned from the position of head of NATO, identified his successor. present he handed the baton to erstwhile Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Stoltenberg's word of office brought, among others, increased spending on the defence of the States of the Alliance, support for Ukraine and the expansion of the Pact. What are the fresh secretary-general's plans?
On 1 October, before noon Jens Stoltenberg hit the table with a hammer for the last time, starting a gathering of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels. Next to him was Mark Rutte, elected the next Secretary General of NATO. Stepping out of his position, Stoltenberg recalled that the Alliance had undergone crucial changes over the last decade, which were a essential consequence to changing realities. He besides expressed assurance that his successor would proceed to change.
Leader for hard Times
Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024, began to hold a fresh office by stating that NATO is now "greater, stronger and more united than ever." The fresh secretary-general spoke about the request to keep the unity of the Alliance and to carry out the first intentions. “We must guarantee that Ukraine wins as a sovereign, independent and democratic state,” appealed Rutte. – We request to do more about our collective defence and deterrence. More investment and effort to accomplish all the goals NATO has set here – continued the fresh secretary-general, entering its predecessor's policy.
During the press conference, the question of change at the top of power in the United States was raised. Mark Rutte took office a period before Donald Trump and Kamala Harris' final election clash. I'm not worried. I know both candidates very well. I worked with Donald Trump for 4 years. He was the 1 who urged us to spend more in defense, and he achieved it, due to the fact that we are actually at a much higher level of spending at the minute than erstwhile he took office," Rutte said.
He besides referred to the Democratic candidate. Kamala Harris has a fantastic vice president behind him. He is simply a highly respected leader, so I will be able to work with both – the diplomatic secretary general of NATO signed.
What Stoltenberg left behind
Former Norwegian Prime Minister was the 13th Secretary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He took office respective months after Russia annexed Crimea. In the mediate East, the terrorist activity of the alleged muslim State was causing heat. Europe was beginning to digest the migration crisis – in 2014, there were 280 000 acts of illegal crossing the borders of EU countries, and in the following year there were over... 1.8 million.
In the following years, the list of challenges and threats to NATO has expanded to include: the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberattacks, the ever-increasing power of China, climate change and yet Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "During my word as Secretary General, NATO was questioned. The Alliance was said to be "shared", "obsolete." But the reality is that NATO is strong and united. And more crucial than ever," Jens Stoltenberg said in September 2024.
During his term, 10 NATO summits took place. First 2016 in Warsaw, but as early as September 2014, in Welsh Newport, erstwhile the secretary was inactive Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 1 of the most crucial strategies of the North Atlantic Pact for the next decade became clear. It is following the Welsh summit that the "Ready Plan" states that within 10 years associate States should increase defence spending to 2% of GDP. Moreover, they should strive to keep spending on essential weapons at 20% of their defence budget. At that time only Greece, the United Kingdom and the United States spent more than 2% of GDP on 28 associate States.
With the increase in arms spending among associate States, political consent to creation of NATO fast consequence forces. On the 1 hand, missions in Iraq and Afghanistan continued, but Russia's seizure of Crimea was a signal to strengthen the defence of east borders. For this intent in 2016 during the Warsaw summit, the formation of battalion combat groups was announced in Poland and another Baltic States. Stoltenberg one more time called for increased investment in arms (European allies only spent 1.56 percent of GDP), as more than 60% of NATO's defence spending came from the US budget.
At the subsequent meetings of NATO leaders, efforts were re-declared to increase their efforts to defend themselves, fight terrorism, but besides to build a strong defence in the east, while at the same time "conducting constructive dialog with Russia". In 2018 after the Brussels Summit 5 papers have been produced, including a declaration recalling that "NATO is simply a defence pact, seeking to keep peace, safety and stableness in the Euro-Atlantic area". Terrorism, illegal migration, the Syrian crisis and hybrid action have been listed as the top threats that straight affect associate States.
NATO and Ukraine
The alliance under the leadership of Jens Stoltenberg put on defending his own borders, but besides deterring possible aggressors. It sounded peculiarly strong. at the 2019 London Summit, convened on the 70th anniversary of the NATO uprising and 30 years after the end of the Cold War. However, the Alliance strategy did not deter Russia from starting an invasion of Ukraine. On February 25, 2022, a virtual summit took place, at which a message by NATO states and governments was issued on Russia's attack on Ukraine. Putin's actions were condemned and it was decided to impose individual and economical sanctions on Russia, and deploy on the east flank of NATO Force Responses (up to 25,000 soldiers of land, air, naval and peculiar forces).
A period later in Brussels, extraordinary summit during which associate States agreed to change NATO's long-term policy as regards deterrence and defence in all areas, they condemned Russia for attacking Ukraine, called on Putin to halt aggression and make humanitarian corridors. It besides announced the deployment of NATO consequence Force components on the east flank (40 1000 soldiers) and the creation of multinational combat groups in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. “The support of Ukraine is not a charity, but an investment in our common security,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO under its leadership has grown stronger not only due to increased arms spending (Poland will spend 5 times more this year than at the beginning of Stoltenberg's term, exceeding the threshold of 4% of GDP on defence), but besides due to the fresh associate States. For the last decade, she joined NATO. Montenegro (2017), North Macedonia (2020), Finland (2023) and – despite first opposition from Turkey and Hungary – Sweden (2024).
It is customary that the head of the Alliance has a function of 4 years. Jens Stoltenberg's word of office was extended twice. In 2018, associate States gave him a mandate for another 4 years, and in 2022, due to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, they inactive did not want to change the leader. The Norwegian word of office was so extended until the fall of this year to strengthen the Alliance in a fragile situation in Europe. present Jens Stoltenberg handed over the controls.
