US and UK endorse Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next Nato chief

Many other members have signalled they would back Dutch leader as alliance faces major challenges

The US and UK have endorsed the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte’s candidacy to become the next secretary general of Nato, at a time when the alliance faces major challenges amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and renewed questions about the future of the US commitment to the transatlantic relationship.

“President Biden strongly endorses PM Rutte’s candidacy to be the next secretary general of Nato,” a US official told Reuters on Thursday.