NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte serves as U.S. President Donald Trump’s chief advisor on European matters.

Axar.az reports that “Financial Times” has released this information, referencing sources close to the secretary general.

According to the sources, it was thanks to Rutte that Trump softened his rhetoric on Greenland and European financial tariffs. In return, European leaders agreed only to discuss the potential U.S. presence on the island.

The sources noted that Rutte’s 14-year tenure as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands taught him how to find compromises and negotiate agreements.

Ernst Dijkshoorn, a lecturer at Leiden University in the Netherlands, said that Rutte understands the “submarine” principle in his relationship with Trump better than anyone: staying underwater, not creating waves, and surfacing only when necessary to achieve results.

It should be noted that Mark Rutte has been leading NATO since October 1, 2024, and served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.