Brussels, Belgium:
Incoming NATO chief Mark Rutte brings new management this week to one of many world’s most powerful-sounding roles — helming the nuclear-armed Atlantic alliance.
However even when the previous Dutch prime minister needed to shake issues up after taking up from Jens Stoltenberg, he in all probability could not.
The truth of the NATO job means Rutte will likely be heading a risk-averse civilian paperwork, with onerous energy finally residing with member nations and above all the US.
And in some ways NATO’s 32 nations — by swapping one mild-mannered, middle-aged, northern European male ex-premier for one more — have opted for extra of the identical, to steer the alliance in troubled occasions.
“In such a tough geopolitical state of affairs, conserving continuation and the identical international coverage and safety line is essential,” a senior NATO diplomat informed AFP, speaking on situation of anonymity to debate inside deliberations.
Throughout his greater than 10 years on the helm, Stoltenberg gained plaudits for his calm stewardship of the typically fractious alliance.
The Norwegian helped preserve then-US president Donald Trump on board, threw his weight behind Ukraine whereas ensuring NATO did not get dragged right into a struggle with Russia and kicked off an overhaul of the alliance’s defences to face Moscow.
“Allies have been on the lookout for someone who has lots of the similar qualities as Stoltenberg and can proceed in the identical course: prime minister, well-connected, lengthy expertise, good tackle e book, has dealt with Trump,” stated Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official now with the Chatham Home assume tank.
Rutte, a favorite of key powers the US, Britain, France and Germany, ticked all these bins.
A veteran who led complicated coalitions within the Netherlands for 13 years, he has ample expertise that may be put to make use of conserving nations with disparate — and infrequently competing — pursuits on the identical web page.
“He’s a consensus builder with an unflinching dedication to the transatlantic alliance,” a senior US official stated.
The Dutchman has been a stalwart backer of Kyiv and wasn’t afraid to speak frankly to Trump, who might make a comeback after elections in November.
Consensus straitjacket?
Similarities apart, diplomats say the straight-talking Rutte ought to convey a breath of recent air to the alliance after Stoltenberg’s lengthy tenure.
However Rutte would possible wrestle to get by way of main modifications.
Whereas the job of working the alliance seems like a potent function, the secretary common truly solely heads the civilian paperwork of some 1,500 workers.
Navy energy rests with the member nations — primarily within the fingers of an American common as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
The NATO head typically serves extra as a spokesperson-in-chief for the organisation, with Stoltenberg recognized for rigorously parsing the place he might stake out.
All choices at NATO should be agreed by every member and the individual on the high is constrained by how far allies — and significantly Washington — are keen to go.
The course for the following yr was set on the final summit in Washington in July.
“NATO is a consensus organisation. The whole lot, completely every little thing, from essentially the most mundane to essentially the most strategic, is set by consensus,” stated Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund assume tank.
“So the scope for particular person secretary generals to reshape what NATO does and the way it does it’s clearly very restricted.”
That stated, Rutte does have some levers at his disposal to attempt to drive by way of priorities.
“The secretary-general might be instrumental in bringing points to the agenda for dialogue,” Lesser stated.
“That is truly an enormous function.”
Stoltenberg used his pulpit to press allies on supporting Ukraine, paying extra consideration to the affect of local weather change or strengthening ties with companions in Asia-Pacific.
Diplomats say one space the place Rutte might push is making an attempt to enhance coordination between the European Union and NATO — lengthy hamstrung by alliance member Turkey’s standoff with Cyprus.
However Rutte’s important probability to form the workplace will possible come if the political state of affairs will get stormier — with Trump’s return to workplace or a serious change in Ukraine.
Then he’ll want all his diplomatic guile — and prolonged contact checklist — to maintain the ears and dedication of NATO’s numerous leaders.
“The talent and persona of a secretary common could make a distinction, particularly underneath circumstances when the alliance is being examined,” Lesser stated.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)