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Mark Rutte

The latest news on Mark Rutte, Dutch politician and Secretary General of NATO, including global politics and diplomacy news.

Born

14 Feb 1967

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

The gate of the British Royal Air Force air base after it was struck by a drone earlier in the morning near Limassol, Cyprus, on Monday. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Europe divided, on edge as US-Israel strikes on Iran ripple across the continent

Cyprus hit, oil prices jump and EU leaders clash over legality, regime change and Washington’s role in the widening conflict.

3 Mar 2026 - 6:05AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump sends ‘great’ hospital boat to treat ‘sick’ people in Greenland

22 Feb 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

15 Feb 2026 - 10:34PM

Nato

Nato launches Arctic Sentry mission to ease Greenland tensions with Trump

The mission brings efforts by various alliance members under a single command, as Russia and China take a greater interest in the region.

12 Feb 2026 - 12:44AM

Nato

Nato starts planning for Arctic military mission amid Greenland row with Trump

The defence alliance has said it would boost its presence in the region after the US president’s repeated threats to take over the island.

4 Feb 2026 - 2:02AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Ukraine left freezing as Russia bombs energy grid before peace talks

Largest barrage of the year hits Kyiv and Kharkiv, damaging power plants. Zelensky says Moscow chose terror over diplomacy as talks loom.

3 Feb 2026 - 6:02PM

My Take

My Take | Trump threatens Greenland but Nato chief says China is the real threat

EU and Nato ‘leaders’ can continue to act slavishly before the Americans. They are just making themselves irrelevant and despised.

25 Jan 2026 - 6:51PM

US President Donald Trump (right) speaks with Nato’s secretary-general Mark Rutte during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

US-brokered Ukraine peace talks end with no deal, as Russian strikes continue

More talks are expected, however, with a US official saying ‘I don’t think we’re so far away’ from a Putin-Zelensky meeting.

25 Jan 2026 - 4:31AM

Donald Trump

Greenland PM says he doesn’t know what’s in deal reached with Trump

Locals, meanwhile, are fed up with negotiations done over their heads after the US president’s meeting with Nato’s chief.

23 Jan 2026 - 12:07PMvideocam

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Sidestepping Greenland, Nato chief urges Arctic unity to counter China, Russia

At Davos, Mark Rutte calls for Nato to ‘defend the Arctic region’ but says Ukraine should be top priority for security alliance.

21 Jan 2026 - 9:40PM

Greenland

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

19 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

Greenland

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

The island would rather remain Danish than be taken over by the US, its leader says, despite ongoing discussions about independence.

14 Jan 2026 - 3:08AMvideocam

Greenland

Greenland says it should be defended by Nato, rejects any US takeover

The Arctic island’s government insists that security must happen through the Western alliance, not via US ownership.

13 Jan 2026 - 12:20PM

Ukraine war

Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

The EU should secure its future through fair contributions to Nato and a lucrative transatlantic defence market, not conflict with Moscow.

29 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

European Union

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:16AMvideocam

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas signs an agreement to transfer to Ukraine a tranche of proceeds from frozen Russian assets during a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Europe fears hidden Russian threat in Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan

Europe worries a US plan for a demilitarised zone in the Donbas region may help Moscow to reinvade Kyiv.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:39AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Donald Trump left facing ‘dilemma’ as China-Japan spat worsens: analyst

White House navigates backing long-time ally Japan while preserving trade truce with China amid fraying ties between the Asian neighbours.

12 Dec 2025 - 12:29AMvideocam

Ukraine war

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

9 Dec 2025 - 9:16AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: AP

Nato

‘Not a withdrawal’: US scales back troop presence on Nato border

US will reduce its troop presence on Europe’s eastern border with Ukraine to focus on the Indo-Pacific, but reaffirms its commitment to Nato.

30 Oct 2025 - 12:31AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Zelensky meets European leaders for talks on military aid for Ukraine

The talks aim to step up pressure on Russia, adding momentum to more sanctions against Moscow’s aggression that take aim at its vital oil and gas export earnings.

24 Oct 2025 - 11:30PMvideocam

Ukraine war

Trump says Ukraine talks with Putin off for now, doesn’t want ‘wasted meeting’

Decision follows a call between top US and Russian diplomats that reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to an immediate Ukraine ceasefire.

22 Oct 2025 - 9:58AMvideocam

Matryoshka dolls depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at a gift shop in Moscow. Photo: AFP

European Union

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns.

2 Oct 2025 - 2:09PMvideocam

The Boracay, a tanker from Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ off France’s coast on Wednesday. The ship passed through Danish waters when drones caused multiple disruptions last week. Photo: AFP

US-China trade war

Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse

US officials say India’s tariff rates will only be lowered if it curbs its crude oil imports from Russia.

27 Sep 2025 - 4:18AMvideocam

Nordic nations

Danish airport closes again after suspected new drone sightings linked to Russia

Drones have been seen flying over several Danish airports since Wednesday, which prompted Copenhagen Airport to shut down.

26 Sep 2025 - 5:41PM

Russia

Nato says downing Russian drones with costly missiles ‘not sustainable’

Mark Rutte said the security alliance will soon deploy new technologies to tackle Russian jets crossing into Nato airspace.

26 Sep 2025 - 1:20PMvideocam

Nato

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

13 Sep 2025 - 7:39AMvideocam

Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich speaks during a press conference on the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones, at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Friday. Photo: AFP

Poland

UN Security Council to convene over drone attacks in Poland

Warsaw has accused Russia of carrying out the drone raid, calling it an ‘unprecedented’ attack on Poland, Nato and the European Union.

12 Sep 2025 - 2:30AM

Ukraine war

Europe leaders call Trump after Ukraine security guarantees summit in Paris

But there appears to be no agreement on a course of action, with the nature of the guarantees sketchy.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:39PMvideocam

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Mark Rutte

Europe divided, on edge as US-Israel strikes on Iran ripple across the continent

Cyprus hit, oil prices jump and EU leaders clash over legality, regime change and Washington’s role in the widening conflict.

Trump sends ‘great’ hospital boat to treat ‘sick’ people in Greenland

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Nato launches Arctic Sentry mission to ease Greenland tensions with Trump

The mission brings efforts by various alliance members under a single command, as Russia and China take a greater interest in the region.

Nato starts planning for Arctic military mission amid Greenland row with Trump

The defence alliance has said it would boost its presence in the region after the US president’s repeated threats to take over the island.

Ukraine left freezing as Russia bombs energy grid before peace talks

Largest barrage of the year hits Kyiv and Kharkiv, damaging power plants. Zelensky says Moscow chose terror over diplomacy as talks loom.

My Take | Trump threatens Greenland but Nato chief says China is the real threat

EU and Nato ‘leaders’ can continue to act slavishly before the Americans. They are just making themselves irrelevant and despised.

US-brokered Ukraine peace talks end with no deal, as Russian strikes continue

More talks are expected, however, with a US official saying ‘I don’t think we’re so far away’ from a Putin-Zelensky meeting.

Greenland PM says he doesn’t know what’s in deal reached with Trump

Locals, meanwhile, are fed up with negotiations done over their heads after the US president’s meeting with Nato’s chief.

Sidestepping Greenland, Nato chief urges Arctic unity to counter China, Russia

At Davos, Mark Rutte calls for Nato to ‘defend the Arctic region’ but says Ukraine should be top priority for security alliance.

Europe prepares retaliation over Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

Eight European countries consider US$108 billion retaliation and ‘anti-coercion’ tools after Trump vows tariffs on Europe over Arctic island.

Greenland says ‘we choose Denmark’, as talks with Trump officials loom

The island would rather remain Danish than be taken over by the US, its leader says, despite ongoing discussions about independence.

Greenland says it should be defended by Nato, rejects any US takeover

The Arctic island’s government insists that security must happen through the Western alliance, not via US ownership.

Opinion | Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy of war with Russia

The EU should secure its future through fair contributions to Nato and a lucrative transatlantic defence market, not conflict with Moscow.

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

Europe fears hidden Russian threat in Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan

Europe worries a US plan for a demilitarised zone in the Donbas region may help Moscow to reinvade Kyiv.

Donald Trump left facing ‘dilemma’ as China-Japan spat worsens: analyst

White House navigates backing long-time ally Japan while preserving trade truce with China amid fraying ties between the Asian neighbours.

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

‘Not a withdrawal’: US scales back troop presence on Nato border

US will reduce its troop presence on Europe’s eastern border with Ukraine to focus on the Indo-Pacific, but reaffirms its commitment to Nato.

Zelensky meets European leaders for talks on military aid for Ukraine

The talks aim to step up pressure on Russia, adding momentum to more sanctions against Moscow’s aggression that take aim at its vital oil and gas export earnings.

Trump says Ukraine talks with Putin off for now, doesn’t want ‘wasted meeting’

Decision follows a call between top US and Russian diplomats that reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to an immediate Ukraine ceasefire.

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse

US officials say India’s tariff rates will only be lowered if it curbs its crude oil imports from Russia.

Danish airport closes again after suspected new drone sightings linked to Russia

Drones have been seen flying over several Danish airports since Wednesday, which prompted Copenhagen Airport to shut down.

Nato says downing Russian drones with costly missiles ‘not sustainable’

Mark Rutte said the security alliance will soon deploy new technologies to tackle Russian jets crossing into Nato airspace.

Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Operation Eastern Sentry involves both air and ground forces and is a response to Moscow’s unprecedented incursion into Polish airspace.

UN Security Council to convene over drone attacks in Poland

Warsaw has accused Russia of carrying out the drone raid, calling it an ‘unprecedented’ attack on Poland, Nato and the European Union.

Europe leaders call Trump after Ukraine security guarantees summit in Paris

But there appears to be no agreement on a course of action, with the nature of the guarantees sketchy.

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse