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.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday officially took over as the boss of NATO after the outgoing head of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg passed a ceremonial gavel to him to mark the occasion.

Mark Rutte, the affable and meticulous former Dutch premier, has a daunting task ahead to keep the defense alliance a global force.

Outgoing NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg passes the gavel to his successor Mark Rutte:: Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General "My second priority is to step up our support for Ukraine and bring it ever closer to NATO.

Rutte said his priorities would be NATO’s support for Ukraine, increasing defense spending and strengthening partnerships around the globe.

Leadership of the 32-nation NATO alliance changed hands Tuesday for the first time in a decade as former Dutch Prime Minster Mark Rutte took the helm of a military bloc facing security challenges unrivaled since the Cold War era.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte officially took over as NATO Secretary General from his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, 1 October. Source: European Pravda Details: The handover ceremony takes place at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.