BRUSSELS — One of NATO’s longest serving top officials, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, stepped down on Tuesday, handing over the reins to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the military alliance confronts some of the biggest challenges in its history.

The new leader of NATO, former Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, pledged on Tuesday to continue leading the alliance in its support of Ukraine and called out China as an "enabler" of Russia in its invasion.

An EU veteran with an established relationship with Donald Trump, ex-Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is well-placed to tackle NATO’s challenges, defence experts have told Euronews.