NATO hopes to announce new boss ‘in the coming weeks’ | Abroad

Rutte is one of two candidates to succeed Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg as NATO chief. The other candidate is Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. First, NATO’s 32 member states must reach an agreement before they can make a choice.

Smith says that agreement will hopefully be reached within a few weeks. But NATO countries can also take until mid-July to decide who will be the new Secretary General. Then the NATO summit is in Washington.

The American ambassador says that the US “fully supports” Rutte as a candidate. It is the first time that she has spoken out publicly for him. “But we also have the utmost respect for our friend President Iohannis,” Smith said. “We appreciate him raising his hand and wish him the best.”

Rutte reportedly already has two-thirds of the member states behind him. Turkey and Hungary, among others, would still be obstructive. Several Baltic states, neighboring countries of Russia, have already expressed their support. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday https://twitter.com/kajakallas/status/1775154452971806897 already know to support Rutte.

Lithuania also supports Rutte’s candidacy, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday during a visit by the prime minister. According to the Lithuanian head of state, Rutte is “one of the politicians who recognized the Russian threat early on” and “radically” adjusted his position accordingly.

Lithuania is an important ally in NATO and the European Union when it comes to the fight against Russia. The Baltic country is calling for the toughest sanctions against Russia and calling for as much military, humanitarian, financial and diplomatic support as possible for Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russia and its ally Belarus.

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