Mark Rutte, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, assumes the role of NATO Secretary-General from Jens Stoltenberg, emphasizing the need for increased defence spending and stronger ties with Indo-Pacific allies.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has taken on the role of NATO Secretary-General, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg, who led the alliance for the past decade.
The transition occurred during a formal ceremony in Brussels, marked by a handshake and a wreath-laying at NATO headquarters. After the event, Rutte and Stoltenberg attended a meeting with ambassadors from the North Atlantic Council to formalize the new appointment. Stoltenberg expressed confidence in his successor, stating that NATO is in capable hands moving forward.
Rutte expressed his gratitude to NATO allies for placing their trust in him for the new role. "It is a big job, and I have big shoes to fill," he said.
In his first press conference, Rutte urged NATO allies to increase defense spending and highlighted the importance of ending the Ukraine conflict for European security. He also called for closer cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners due to China’s destabilizing role and support for Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will probably meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this week’s NATO summit, offering Kyiv an opportunity to push for U.S. Patriot missiles and stronger sanctions on Russia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday called for an unconditional end to defence trade restrictions among NATO allies and expressed Türkiye’s interest in hosting the alliance’s 2026 summit.
A Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least nine people and injured dozens, damaging civilian infrastructure including schools and a hospital.
World leaders convened in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a pivotal two-day NATO summit that could see member states agree to a historic rise in defence spending—or expose sharp divisions within the 32-member alliance.
NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
China has nearly doubled its naphtha import quotas for 2025, issuing a second batch of allocations to chemical companies as demand surges and cheaper alternatives like propane and ethane face supply disruptions, according to six trade sources.
Iran’s president says his country ready to pursue dialogue ‘to reclaim Iranian nation’s rightful demands’
Britain’s competition regulator may force Google to rank businesses more fairly in search results and provide consumers with alternative services, using new powers to regulate tech giants.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will probably meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this week’s NATO summit, offering Kyiv an opportunity to push for U.S. Patriot missiles and stronger sanctions on Russia.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
European metal producers are urging the EU to restrict scrap exports, warning that rising US demand driven by Trump’s 50% tariffs threatens Europe’s green transition and efforts to cut carbon emissions.
China announced on Tuesday that it will host a large-scale military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. President Xi Jinping is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech during the commemorative events.
Iran’s president says his country ready to pursue dialogue ‘to reclaim Iranian nation’s rightful demands’
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will probably meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this week’s NATO summit, offering Kyiv an opportunity to push for U.S. Patriot missiles and stronger sanctions on Russia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday called for an unconditional end to defence trade restrictions among NATO allies and expressed Türkiye’s interest in hosting the alliance’s 2026 summit.
China has nearly doubled its naphtha import quotas for 2025, issuing a second batch of allocations to chemical companies as demand surges and cheaper alternatives like propane and ethane face supply disruptions, according to six trade sources.
Iran’s president says his country ready to pursue dialogue ‘to reclaim Iranian nation’s rightful demands’
Britain’s competition regulator may force Google to rank businesses more fairly in search results and provide consumers with alternative services, using new powers to regulate tech giants.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he will probably meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this week’s NATO summit, offering Kyiv an opportunity to push for U.S. Patriot missiles and stronger sanctions on Russia.
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