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Episode details

Radio 4,24 Jan 2026,15 mins

Mark Rutte

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Available for over a year

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 Archive: Guardian News, 2024 Sky News tv47 BBC TV Bloomberg News

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