NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg officially handed over leadership to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a decade in office. Rutte assumes the role at a pivotal time for the alliance.

A series of events unfolded in Brussels on Tuesday, marking a significant leadership transition for NATO. Jens Stoltenberg, who has led the alliance since 2014, stepped down, handing over the reins to Mark Rutte, the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

After a symbolic handshake and a wreath-laying ceremony at NATO headquarters, both leaders proceeded to a meeting with NATO ambassadors at the North Atlantic Council, where Rutte was officially appointed.

Stoltenberg assured that NATO would be in "safe hands" under his successor's leadership.

Stoltenberg's term coincided with critical moments for NATO, starting with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. His tenure is only surpassed in length by Dutch diplomat Joseph Luns, who led the alliance for 12 years.

Mark Rutte takes the helm as the Russia-Ukraine conflict nears 1,000 days. With Russian forces gaining ground in eastern Ukraine, Rutte’s role will be pivotal in rallying support for Kyiv among Western allies, especially as the prolonged conflict begins to weigh heavily on the international community.

Rutte emphasized that Ukraine remains a priority, as does closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon. Additionally, there are concerns among NATO members about the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. Since the U.S. is NATO's most powerful member, a victory for former President Donald Trump could again bring instability to the alliance, as seen during his first term when he pressured members to increase defense spending and questioned the bloc’s foundational principle of mutual defense.

Nonetheless, Rutte expressed confidence, saying, "I am not worried. I know both candidates very well. I worked for four years with Donald Trump during my time as Dutch prime minister."

"Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." – John F. Kennedy.