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Jaap de Hoop SchefferDutch politician, Secretary General of NATO.
Date of Birth: 03.04.1948
Country:  Netherlands |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military Service and Diplomatic Career
- Political Career
- Minister of Foreign Affairs and NATO Secretary General
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was born on April 3, 1948, in Amsterdam. After graduating from St. Ignatius College in 1967, he studied law at Leiden University, earning his degree in 1974.
Military Service and Diplomatic Career
Following his education, de Hoop Scheffer served as a pilot in the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In 1975, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an intern. He later served in the Dutch embassy in Ghana (1976-1978) and the Netherlands mission to NATO in Brussels (1980-1986).
Political Career
In 1986, de Hoop Scheffer was elected to the Dutch parliament as a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party. He held various leadership positions within the party, including Deputy Leader (1995-1997) and Leader (1997-2001). From 1992 to 1997 and 2001 to 2002, he chaired the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and NATO Secretary General
In 2002, de Hoop Scheffer was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. In 2003, he concurrently became the chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In September 2003, he was elected as the new Secretary General of NATO. He officially took office in January 2004.
During his tenure as NATO Secretary General, de Hoop Scheffer oversaw the expansion of the alliance from 19 to 26 member states. He also played a key role in NATO's peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Personal Life
De Hoop Scheffer is married with two daughters. He is fluent in English, French, and German. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, squash, and running.
