‘Extremely unfortunate if Rutte acted as NATO boss during his visit to China’

The two-day visit of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has come to an end. According to former top diplomat and geopolitical advisor Ron Keller, it was a ‘good visit’ that fits in with the relationship between the two countries. ‘That bond has been very good for decades, so maintaining it is important.’

Yet it is striking that Rutte, as outgoing prime minister, visited Xi. China correspondent Anouk Eigenraam emphasizes that it is not usual for China to receive a resigning prime minister. It could therefore be assumed that Rutte was previously wearing the hat of the future Secretary General of NATO during the visit. However, that is not absolutely the case, says Keller. ‘There’s no doubt about it. Rutte went there as Dutch Prime Minister, and is leaving there that way.’

Unlikely and unfortunate

Keller calls it ‘extremely unlikely’ and even ‘unfortunate’ that Rutte acted as future NATO boss during the visit. Especially because other NATO countries would not appreciate that. ‘If NATO wants to talk to China, preparations will be made in Brussels. In this case it is really about our Prime Minister asking China to stop the war being waged by Russia and to change Putin’s mind.’ The former top diplomat thinks it is self-evident that Rutte makes that call, because it is in the interests of the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world to stop the war.

“That has nothing to do with the fact that Rutte may hold a NATO position in the future,” Keller emphasizes. Yet the former top diplomat can imagine that the Chinese will keep that in mind. ‘But even if Rutte did not aspire to that position and was not suitable, he would have been welcomed in China, just like now, with a lot of fanfare and respect. The Netherlands is a very important gateway for China to the European market.’