Mark Rutte takes helm: NATO's stance on Russia and Trump
New NATO chief Mark Rutte believes that Putin will not stop at Ukraine. According to him, the dictator's "delusional dream" is to restore the great Russian empire, emphasizing the Saturday edition of "Plus Minus," presenting Rutte's profile.
The newspaper points out that both the term "Mister Everyman" - meaning an ordinary person, one of us, and "Teflon Mark," or "Houdini prime minister," or "the Trump whisperer" apply to Rutte.
"If necessary, the new NATO chief will even come to terms with Donald Trump. However, he has been convinced for a decade that one cannot come to terms with Russia," writes "Plus Minus." The article emphasizes that Rutte's views on security and defence issues are the most important and exciting in the NATO context.
It is noted that Rutte is perceived as a consensus builder. "The Secretary-General is a specific role in which all of Rutte's qualities, sometimes seen as opportunism by some, will prove great. If Jens Stoltenberg, considered an excellent NATO chief in difficult times, is a point of reference, the ability to get along with everyone is undoubtedly key," assesses "Plus Minus."
Will Rutte come to terms with Trump?
"Plus Minus" notes that if Donald Trump returns to the White House, another skill of Rutte, sometimes called the "Trump whisperer," will be helpful. It adds that when Trump yelled at Europeans in July 2018 for not investing enough in defence and said the USA might withdraw its security guarantees, Rutte said that Trump "opened their eyes," thanking him for sharing his opinions. "Trump sat as if mesmerized," the newspaper recalls.
At the same time, it points out that "Rutte's method is not just about nodding in agreement" and that the Dutchman managed to oppose Trump during a 2018 White House visit when the conversation turned to a trade deal with the EU. The newspaper also notes that Rutte is respected in the USA for understanding the threat from China and for being ready to go further than the entire EU in his actions.
The newspaper observes that "for years, there has been no doubt that Rutte has no illusions on this matter, considers Russia a great threat, and insists that Ukraine must be armed."
