Mark Rutte hopes to hear from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday that he no longer has any objections to his appointment as NATO Secretary General. Turkey is now one of the four countries that is still opposed to Rutte’s appointment as boss of the military alliance. “Rutte will have to convince Erdogan today, but the expectation is that if that conversation goes well, he can count on his support,” says Turkey correspondent Ingrid Woudwijk.
Rutte goes to Turkey for NATO lobbying, Erdogan seems almost convinced
5 min 41 sec
Woudwijk points out that Turkey has never been a major obstacle in the appointment of Rutte as the new NATO boss. “They haven’t expressed support yet, but it wasn’t really expected that there would be the same kind of blockade as we saw with Sweden’s membership.” Sweden has been a member of NATO since last month, but Turkey has resisted this for a long time.
It has been expected in The Hague for some time that the Turks will ultimately agree to the appointment. Bloomberg news agency reported on Thursday, based on anonymous sources, that Erdogan will most likely make that decision after the conversation with Rutte.
Terror
For Erdogan, it is especially important that Rutte, as the new NATO chief, pays attention to the Turkish fight against terror, and especially against the Kurdish PKK movement, says Woudwijk. ‘Just like in Turkey, this is also a terrorist organization in the EU, but Ankara always emphasizes that they want the EU to do more against PKK sympathizers.’
It is also important for Turkey that Rutte represents the interests of Member States that are not EU members. ‘They don’t want Rutte to behave like some kind of EU standard-bearer as a possible new secretary general. It is important for Turkey that non-EU countries also have an equal position within the alliance.’ Woudwijk says that current Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was always aware of this. ‘Erdogan wants a continuation of the role that Stoltenberg played.’
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The outgoing prime minister now has the support of 28 of NATO’s 32 member states. Washington, among others, has backed Rutte. As by far the most militarily powerful country within the alliance, the Americans have a decisive vote. The appointment does require unanimity.
Personal title
The other candidate is Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. According to Bloomberg, Iohannis would withdraw if Erdogan agrees to Rutte’s appointment. ‘Turkey is an important NATO partner. If Turkey changes tack, it is also a signal to other countries that have not yet spoken out,” says Woudwijk.
In addition to Turkey and Romania, Slovakia and Hungary must also agree. The most resistance is expected from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. That country is the only country that has publicly spoken out against Rutte’s candidacy.
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Rutte traveled to Turkey in a personal capacity and at his own expense. The relationship between the Netherlands and Turkey has not always been warm over the past decade. 2017 was a low point, when the Netherlands refused to allow Turkish ministers to campaign here. It even led to a Turkish minister being deported from the country. Since then, ties have been strengthened again.
