Brussels, 1 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) -- Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is now the secretary general of NATO after a handover ceremony at alliance headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.

Rutte thanked NATO allies for trusting him with the leadership role, succeeding former secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.

"It is a big job, and I have big shoes to fill," he said.

Ukraine will be Rutte's top priority when he takes over the Western military alliance's top job.

"Ukraine is at the top of the list," Rutte said, speaking alongside outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

Rutte noted other important tasks for NATO like ramping up Western defence industry production as well as deepening ties with partners in the Indo-Pacific.

Faced with the prospect of former US president Donald Trump returning to the White House, Rutte said he was not worried as he had worked the US presidential candidate before.

Trump pushed NATO allies to spend more on defence, Rutte said, stressing that this was now the case. "He was also pushing us on China, and I think he was right there," he added. 

NATO's 32 members appointed Rutte during the summer after the Dutch politician secured the early backing of the United States, Germany and Britain despite his record of low defence spending in government.

Rutte takes over at a challenging time for the Western defence alliance, facing down the threat of a more aggressive Russia while supporting Ukraine's defence against Russian President Vladimir Putin's all-out invasion.