Latest Mark Rutte News

Dutch leader Mark Rutte clears a big hurdle to becoming NATO chief after Hungary lifts objections

Jun. 18, 2024 11:43 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Hungary on Tuesday lifted its veto on Mark Rutte becoming the next head of NATO after the outgoing Dutch prime minister gave written guarantees that he would not force the country to take part in the military alliance’s new plans to provide support to Ukraine. ...

Dutch candidate Cabinet ministers are questioned by official working to build coalition government

Jun. 17, 2024 10:01 AM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Candidate Cabinet ministers in the Netherlands' incoming far-right-led government underwent questioning Monday to establish their suitability for office, as the monthslong process of forming a new administration neared its end. Anti-Islam lawmaker...

4 Dutch parties say they've reached agreement on ministers in a new right-wing government

Jun. 11, 2024 07:46 AM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The four parties negotiating to form a coalition government in the Netherlands have reached agreement on a new team of Cabinet ministers, far-right leader Geert Wilders said Tuesday. It's another key step toward forming the first Dutch government led by a far-right...

Dutch coalition government dominated by an anti-Islam party struggles to find prime minister

May. 22, 2024 09:29 AM EDT

THE HAGUE (AP) — The parties that agreed to form a Dutch coalition dominated by the far right are struggling to find a prime minister and warned Wednesday that the search might leave the Netherlands without a fully functional government for months. Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert...

The Netherlands veers sharply to the right with a new government dominated by party of Geert Wilders

May. 16, 2024 04:50 AM EDT

THE HAGUE (AP) — Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and three other party leaders agreed on a coalition deal early Thursday that veers the Netherlands toward the hard right, capping a half year of tumultuous negotiations that still left it unclear who would become prime minister. ...

A Dutch anti-Islam party says it's brokered a provisional coalition deal for a hard-right government

May. 15, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders and three other Dutch party leaders said Wednesday they have brokered a provisional coalition deal in a move that brings closer a government driven by the hard right in yet another European Union nation. The party leaders said that...

Biden hosts Romanian leader at the White House to celebrate NATO partnership

May. 07, 2024 15:43 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romania, on Tuesday at the White House, with the two leaders celebrating their joint cooperation on issues including international security, the economy and continued support for Ukraine. The meeting in...

Turkey says it backs outgoing Dutch prime minister Rutte's candidacy for NATO chief

Apr. 29, 2024 07:56 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has told its NATO allies that Ankara will back the Netherlands’ outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s candidacy for the military alliance’s secretary general position, a senior Turkish official said Monday. The official said Turkey notified NATO...

Outgoing Dutch prime minister visits Turkey's Erdogan in his bid for the NATO chief position

Apr. 26, 2024 13:27 PM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — The Netherlands’ outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte was in Turkey on Friday, seeking support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Dutch official's bid for the position of NATO secretary general. Incumbent NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, a former...

France presses China on trade and Ukraine ahead of upcoming Xi Jinping visit

Apr. 01, 2024 05:21 AM EDT

BEIJING (AP) — The French foreign minister pressed China on trade issues and the war in Ukraine on Monday ahead of a planned visit to France by Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this spring. Stéphane Séjourné, in talks with his counterpart Wang Yi in the Chinese capital, largely...