Not long after, on September 17, it was announced that De Bruijn would also take on the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs as a temporary successor to Kaag. Kaag resigned following criticism she received for the challenging evacuations from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power. On September 24, De Bruijn was succeeded as Minister of Foreign Affairs by Ben Knapen.
De Bruijn has previously worked for entities such as the United Nations and the European Union. From 2014 to 2018, he served as Alderman for Finance, Traffic, Transport, and the Environment for D66 in the municipality of The Hague.
In his role as caretaker minister, De Bruijn attended the climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, where the Netherlands decided to cease financing fossil fuel projects abroad.
On January 10, 2022, the new cabinet Rutte IV was sworn in, and De Bruijn was succeeded by Liesje Schreinemacher.
Sources:
- Rijksoverheid - CV minister De Bruijn
- Rijksoverheid - De Bruijn aanwezig bij Klimaattop Glasgow
- NOS - Drie nieuwe bewindslieden beëdigd in demissionair kabinet
- NOS - Tom de Bruijn tijdelijk opvolger van Kaag op Buitenlandse Zaken
- NOS - Nederland stopt toch met financiering fossiele brandstofprojecten in buitenland