The official ceremony of handing over the powers of the Secretary General of the organization from the current head Jens Stoltenberg to the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, who was elected Secretary General, begins at the NATO headquarters.
“NATO will be in safe hands with you. Therefore, it is also easier for me to leave the alliance, knowing that you will take over as NATO Secretary General,” Stoltenberg said on Tuesday in a joint opening statement with Rutte.
At the same time, he said he has mixed feelings. “It’s time to go and a great successor is coming, but it’s hard to leave an alliance and an organization that I’ve dedicated 10 years to. People, states with which I worked – I will miss it. But I am leaving knowing that together over the years we have achieved a lot,” added the Secretary General.
Stoltenberg also stated that NATO provides massive support to Ukraine.
