Mark Rutte Set to Become the Next NATO Secretary General After Months of Blockade
The way for the appointment of Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO is clear after months of blockade. On Thursday, Romania announced as the last alliance state to give up its resistance against the appointment of the outgoing Dutch Prime Minister to the top position. Romania's President Klaus Iohannis withdrew his own candidacy as announced by the Presidency in Bucharest. Romania now supports Rutte's candidacy, according to the announcement. This decision was made by the country's Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) chaired by Iohannis. Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey had already taken this step recently. These three countries, along with Romania, had been the only NATO states blocking the appointment of 57-year-old Rutte as Jens Stoltenberg's successor for a long time. Hungary recently gave up its resistance after Rutte accommodated Hungarian demands.
Among other things, Hungary wants to ensure it is not pressured into participating in a planned NATO operation to coordinate weapons deliveries for Ukraine. Orban's government fears that the project could drive the alliance into direct confrontation with Russia. Romania, until the end, had its own candidate President Iohannis in the running for the top job. However, it was suspected in alliance circles that Iohannis mainly aimed to be offered some other top international position as an alternative. The Romanian's second term ends in the fall, and he cannot run for office in Romania again. Stoltenberg is to step down in October. The current NATO Secretary General's term runs until October 1. He has announced several times in the past his intention to resign. However, attempts by member states to agree on a successor failed last summer. Possible candidates to succeed Stoltenberg at that time included Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and then British Defense Minister Ben Wallace. Stoltenberg has held the top position for nearly ten years now. In the alliance's history, he is currently the second-longest-serving Secretary General. The Dutchman Joseph Luns previously held the top international post in the Alliance from 1971 to 1984, the longest.
More NATO to establish headquarters for Ukraine operation in Germany. For the appointment of a new Secretary General, consensus is required in the defense alliance. This means that none of the current 32 NATO states can raise objections against the candidate. Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly supported Rutte in February. Other support at that time also came from the USA and the UK. It was said from alliance circles on Thursday that it is very likely Rutte would be officially presented as Stoltenberg's successor as early as next week. Rutte is considered highly experienced in foreign policy. He was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands for nearly 14 years, longer than anyone before him and one of the longest-serving in the EU.
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