Mark Rutte is named NATO chief. He’ll need all his consensus-building skills from Dutch politics WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio [Video]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — (AP) — Over the course of more than a dozen years at the top of Dutch politics, Mark Rutte got to know a thing or two about finding consensus among fractious coalition partners. Now he will bring the experience of leading four Dutch multiparty governments to the international stage as NATO’s new secretary general.

On Wednesday, NATO ambassadors appointed the outgoing Dutch prime minister as the alliance’s next secretary general, its top civilian post. Rutte is scheduled to head the world’s biggest military organization from October.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that “Mark is a true trans-Atlanticist, a strong leader, and a consensus-builder.” “I wish him every success as we continue to strengthen NATO for the challenges of today and tomorrow. I know I am leaving NATO in good hands,” he said.

Rutte will be congratulated by President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts at a summit in Washington on July 9-11focused on support for Ukraine against …