NOS News•today, 11:56•Amended today, 1:16 PM
Turkey has expressed its support for outgoing Prime Minister Rutte as NATO chief, Turkish and NATO sources report.
Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu said Turkish officials had informed other NATO countries that Turkey supported Rutte. Reuters news agency also heard this from Turkish sources. Sources within NATO previously spoke about the commitment.
Rutte was in Istanbul last week for a meeting with Turkish President Erdogan. Turkey was one of the last four NATO countries that have not yet expressed support for Rutte.
Unanimous support required
Turkey’s commitment is an important step in Rutte’s ambition to become NATO Secretary General. Now only Hungary, Slovakia and Romania need to be convinced. Rutte needs that support, because to be appointed secretary general requires unanimous support from all 32 NATO member states.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has presented himself as an alternative to Rutte, but has received little support.
Last Friday, the outgoing Prime Minister traveled to Istanbul in a personal capacity. He bought himself a plane ticket for a regular scheduled flight. That same day he had a “very positive conversation” with Erdogan.
The appointment of the new Secretary General was actually expected on April 4, the day NATO celebrated its 75th anniversary. Now that the unanimous support of the 32 countries is not so obvious, the decision is expected to be made no later than the summit in Washington, from 9 to 11 July.
