NATO Gets a New Secretary General at a Turbulent Time

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union.

Ukraine and Russia will be watching as Dutchman Mark Rutte becomes NATO’s 14th secretary general. The task ahead is momentous for the former prime minister, who will have to keep the 32 allies together to continue supporting Kyiv while avoiding an escalation with Moscow. The outcome of the US election will be a test: a second Donald Trump presidency could shake the alliance despite the two men’s good rapport. Rutte will also have the delicate task of smoothing wrinkles in NATO’s relationship with the EU, as the bloc wants to boost its defense. For that, he’s likely to draw on his long experience as an EU leader.