Diplomats and officials who spoke with CNN said Rutte is seen as a staunch trans-Atlanticist and a consensus builder.
“He is really a seasoned political official, and this is essential to keep the cohesion of the alliance,” a European official said.
“It was just a very polite, slightly humorous way of dealing Trump, and Trump appreciated it,” Hoekstra recalled to CNN.
“We are not there yet, but it is better than when Trump left,” the official told CNN.
Biden likes Rutte personally, they get along well, and the US president sees them as sharing the same values, the official told CNN.
Persons:
Donald Trump, Trump, Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, ”, “ Trump, Pete Hoekstra, ” Hoekstra, ‘ Touche, ’ ”, “, ” Rutte, Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Rutte, Putin
Organizations:
CNN, NATO, Dutch, Diplomats, Trump, Kyiv –
Locations:
Washington, NATO, Russia, Netherlands, European, Europe, Ukraine, China, US, ”