What does the Secretary-General of NATO do?
The Secretary-General is the highest representative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As of 1 October 2024, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte is NATO Secretary-General. He is appointed by the NATO allies for a four-year term, after which their term can be extended.
The Secretary-General ’s tasks
The Secretary-General is responsible for:
- Chairing the North Atlantic Council. This is NATO’s principal decision-making body.
- Leading high-level NATO discussions, mediating between allies and ensuring that decisions are taken and carried out.
- Leading the international staff at NATO headquarters.
- Acting as the organisation’s principal spokesperson, for instance at NATO press conferences and official events.
The Secretary-General works from NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Dutch NATO Secretary-General ’s
Mark Rutte is the 14th person in the organisation’s history to hold this role and the 4th Dutch person. The previous Dutch Secretary-General ’s were:
- Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (2004-2009)
- Joseph Luns (1971-1984)
- Dirk Stikker (1961-1964)
Top positions at NATO
The highest positions at NATO are shared between Europe and the United States. All NATO Secretary-Generals to date (the highest civilian position) have been European. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is American.