The Secretary General of NATO has been dubbed the Trump whisperer after talks with Donald Trump at Davos appeared to help trigger a sudden U-turn on Greenland and threatened tariffs.

Mark Rutte was born in The Hague in 1967, began his career in business at Unilever and entered politics in 2002 eventually becoming the Dutch prime minister where he steered the Netherlands through economic turmoil, domestic crises and global shocks. Appointed Secretary General of NATO in October 2024 he has led the organisation through a tumultuous time in global politics.

Mark Coles takes a closer look at Mark Rutte’s life.

Production Team
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Keiligh Baker, Katie Solleveld, Sally Abrahams
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele & Gemma Ashman
Sound: Neil Churchill
Editor: Justine Lang

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