Two days ago, NATO, which had laid out the "script" of troubled times, also reorganized the "grass platform" - Mark ·Rutte, as the new secretary general, took over Stoltenberg's Viking hammer on October 1.
As a symbolic gesture, the new NATO Secretary General was given not a box with a button, but a wooden hammer, which is NATO's "superweapon". Although the inauguration ceremony seemed a bit formalistic, Rutte was the one who was recognized by NATO because he had a sense of "political correctness" and promised to maintain NATO's continuity.
Known as "non-stick pans"
Rutte was born in 1967 in Netherlands to a merchant family. In 2003, Rutte became a member of Parliament. Before becoming Prime Minister of Netherlands in 2010, he held the positions of Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment and Minister of Education, Culture and Science. In 2006, Rutte became the leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Prime Minister of Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.
This ultra-long standby former Netherlands prime minister, the political journey seems to be smooth sailing, but in fact, there are twists and turns.
The first cabinet, which collapsed due to disagreements with the Netherlands Freedom Party over billions of budget cuts.
Since then, there have been several crises, including the new crown epidemic, the child benefit allowance scandal, the nitrogen crisis, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In particular, the "Nokia mobile phone incident" directly pushed Rutte to the forefront: an old Nokia phone in his possession could only store a maximum of 20 text messages, which forced him to delete text messages frequently, which ran counter to the Netherlands archives stipulating that important information must be retained as evidence of accountability, raising widespread questions about his concealment.
He served as prime minister four times and stepped down twice because of scandals, but this did not prevent him from continuing his "glorious" political career. Rutte also earned the nickname "Non-Stick Mark" because he always survived scandals and walked away with his whole body. But the Netherlands used the "non-stick mark" to ridicule everything on him as if water was slipping off the back of a duck, avoiding many crises and dominating a high position for a long time.
An EU diplomat commented that Rutte is known in the EU as "Mr. Neg", and he is very disgusted with the broad and deep reform plans of France President Emmanuel Macron. But he has good connections, both with Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz and with Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Meloni, and with his slick diplomatic and political skills, Rutte has won the trust of NATO countries.
However, before NATO faces the contradictions between Russia and Ukraine, the United States and Europe, Central Europe and the alliance, can he continue to clear the border?
In fact, the person in the post of NATO Secretary General is not the one who decides whether to go to war, let alone the person who can press the nuclear weapons button. Only member states, especially United States, have this power.
Continue to be "beautiful" in the "term without honeymoon".
Rutte, like his predecessor Stoltenberg, was chosen, and the key was to do his job as a toolman. Because, in such a difficult geopolitical situation for NATO, it is very important to maintain the continuity of foreign and security policy, and it is necessary for a political veteran like him to coordinate internal countries so that they can have a unified voice externally.
However, Rutte's smooth handling of Stoltenberg's hammer does not mean that everything will go very smoothly.
The long-term quagmire of geopolitical conflicts in Europe and the uncertainty of the prospects of the United States election have made NATO, which has been established for 75 years, face profound internal and external troubles. Rutte is being told very unceremoniously that this is a "term without a honeymoon". Yes, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has lasted for more than two years, has indeed diverted some of NATO's internal contradictions, but the devastating consequences that have followed and hurt internal forces even more cannot be ignored.
But Rutte continued to maintain his modesty at the inauguration, only to do two things well.
One is the top priority of Tingwu. He is full of desire to protect Ukraine, and said with high morale that the first task is to ensure that Ukraine becomes a sovereign, independent and democratic country, but inadvertently recognizes Ukraine's current status as a European and American puppet state.
The other thing, naturally, is obedience to United States, "without the support of United States, Ukraine may well not exist." Even more difficult is Rutte's "water ending" technique. On the one hand, he praised former United States President Donald Trump for pushing NATO allies to increase spending and take a tough approach against China; He also praised the "outstanding record" of the contender, current United States Vice President Kamala · Harris, as "a well-respected leader" and promised to "work with both of them, regardless of the outcome of the election."
Finally, not forgetting to unite NATO countries and promise promises to other allies on behalf of United States, he said that both United States presidential candidates "understand that ultimately the transatlantic relationship is critical, not just for Europe." ”
After clarifying the "external troubles" and "backers" needed for unity, Rutte is naturally more able to firmly grasp the hammer in the position of NATO secretary general.
As for Israel's atrocities in Gaza and the conflict with Lebanon, which are currently condemned by the world, Rutte has no courage from the United Nations and directly admits instigation, claiming that NATO has not played any role there, and only hopes that the violent conflict will end at an early date.
The hammer of eternity, clamouring to resist
There is less Stoltenberg's aggressiveness and more diplomatic skills to balance the interests of NATO countries, but Rutte, who succeeds him, still spends more time on "resisting China".
Rutte, who followed United States and had a politically correct face on his face, had forgotten the "old friend of the Chinese people" he claimed during his visit to China in March this year, and he was no longer the same person.
During his previous speech, he made a big statement that China is the "decisive booster" of Russia's war against Ukraine and warned that supporting Russia should bear the consequences, and China cannot go without losses in Europe's biggest conflict. This coincides with the remarks made by Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who came to power on the same day, that he wants to establish an "Asian version of NATO" in order to deter China. In the future, under the leadership of United States, under the banner of "the security of the Atlantic and the Pacific," Rutte will continue to launch "NATO in the Asia-Pacific region" and "NATO in the Asia-Pacific region" in an attempt to suppress and encircle China.
Perhaps Rutte understands that peaceful development is the main tone of the global consensus, rather than trying to find and maintain an "imaginary enemy" shared by all members.
Perhaps Rutte also understands that ideas that win more votes for politicians and more orders for arms dealers will not solve long-standing geopolitical conflicts and contradictions.
But the reality is that he Rutte only took a hammer. There are many bumps in the road, so let's dream.
The picture comes from the Internet