Photo: Mark Rutte
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is likely to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO chief, Denmark's national broadcaster NOS reported on Tuesday after Rutte's candidacy was supported by Hungary and Slovakia, reports Reuters.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, Stoltenberg neither confirmed nor denied the media report. Stoltenberg's term ends on October 1, 10 years after he took office in 2014, just months after Russia annexed Crimea.
"Following the announcement by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, it is clear that we are very close to completing… the selection of the next Secretary General, and I think that is good news– Stoltenberg told reporters. – I think Mark – very strong candidate. He has extensive experience as Prime Minister. He is my close friend and colleague, and therefore I am firmly confident that very soon the alliance will decide on my successor.”.
Hungary's support follows Orbán's meeting with Stoltenberg last week, where the parties agreed that Hungary would not block NATO decisions to provide support to Ukraine, but also would not participate in providing that support.
Thereafter Orbán wrote on media platform X that Rutte confirmed that he fully supports this agreement and will continue to support it if he becomes the next Secretary General of NATO.
"In light of his promise, Hungary is ready to support the candidacy of Prime Minister -Minister Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General", – wrote Orban.
Previously, Orban opposed Rutte's candidacy, since the head of the Dutch government, in particular, stated that Hungary should leave the EU.
Turkey and Slovakia also changed course in On Rutte's candidacy, Turkey said it would support him in late April, and Slovakia announced its support earlier on Tuesday. Only Romania, whose president Klaus Iohannis is also vying for the position, remains officially opposed to Rutte's candidacy.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga