Rutte sets up staff purges at NATO

Rutte plans to eliminate two units and cut dozens of positions at the headquarters in Brussels, Politico reported.

The reorganization comes amid fears that NATO-skeptical U.S. President Donald Trump may pull out of the military alliance.

Rutte has held two internal meetings with staff in recent months to announce a wave of changes, including the reduction of NATO's international staff divisions from eight to six.

The Public Diplomacy Division, which serves as NATO's press office, and the Executive Management Division, as well as the Alliance's human resources department, have been hit by the cuts.

Their functions will largely be absorbed by other units. The Assistant Secretaries General - the heads of the divisions he appointed with input from Alliance members - will simply fulfill their functions.

Losing their posts will be Rutte's assistant for public diplomacy, Marie-Doha Bezanseno, who resigned in March, and the head of executive management, Carlo Borghini.

“It is common practice when there is a new secretary-general,” the former NATO official said.

Speaking on behalf of the alliance, a senior NATO official asked about the staff cuts said Rutte was committed to making NATO effective and efficient and had begun a reorganization to streamline NATO headquarters."

“The reorganization process, which includes staff views and has been endorsed by allies, is ongoing,” the official added.

Foto: OP.