Defense Capability To Support For Ukraine Becomes A Priority Of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (ki) shook hands with his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg. (Twitter/@jensstoltenberg)

JAKARTA - Mark Rutte said there were three things that were his priority, after officially serving as Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Sekjen NATO) on Tuesday.

"It is a great honor to be here and to occupy the position of Secretary General of NATO," Rutte said, quoted from the NATO website Oct. 1.

The handover of the position of Secretary-General of NATO was marked by the handover of a ceremonial Viking wooden hammer donated in 1963 by Iceland from his predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg to Rutte, quoted by The National News.

In his inaugural speech at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the former Dutch prime minister said there were three priority programs prepared.

First, keep NATO strong and ensure its defenses are effective and credible against all threats.

Next, increasing support for Ukraine and bringing it closer to NATO, because according to him there would be no lasting security in Europe without a strong and independent Ukraine.

Lastly, strengthening NATO partnerships in a more interconnected world.

"I can't wait to get to work," he said.

On that occasion, he also said that he was not worried about anyone who would win the US Presidential Election next month, whether Donald Trump or the incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, because he could cooperate with the two.

Trump, who is a Republican candidate, is critical of NATO.

"I'm not worried. I worked four years with Donald Trump. He is the one who encouraged us to spend more (for defense), and he did it because we are now at a much higher level of spending than when he was in office," Rutte said.

Rutte said Trump was also right to encourage NATO to focus more on China. He repeated NATO's statement that China had become a "deterrent supporter" for Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine by supplying Russia with critical technology.

Rutte also praised Harris, saying he had "a fantastic record as vice president" and was a "very respected leader".