‘Four more countries against NATO appointment of Rutte’

Four more countries are against the appointment of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next Secretary General of NATO. A high-ranking NATO diplomat reports this to BNR. This makes it increasingly clear that Rutte will not be told this week that he can lead the alliance. Especially in Eastern Europe, leaders are not yet keen on Rutte. “They believe that it should one day be a Central or Eastern European who leads NATO,” says Europe reporter Geert Jan Hahn.

The United States previously made it clear that a consensus on NATO’s next leader will be reached ‘in the coming weeks’. US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith reiterated US support for Rutte, but said there were “continuous consultations” on the appointment. The US is therefore pinning its hopes on the NATO summit in Washington, which will take place in July. The only competition left is Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian president.

Also read | US expects consensus on NATO job Rutte in ‘coming weeks’

This also makes it clear where the opposition that Rutte faces comes from. This must be found mainly in Eastern European members of NATO and Turkey. The Eastern European countries in particular seem to agree in their aversion to Rutte. “I understand from a senior NATO diplomat that there are now 28 countries that support Rutte,” says Hahn. In addition to Romania, Slovakia and Hungary would also be obstacles in Eastern Europe. ‘They believe that it should one day be a Central or Eastern European who leads NATO.’

Turkish agenda

Erdogan’s agenda is different from that of the Eastern European countries, Hahn explains. ‘Erdogan says he wants to support Rutte, but also says that priority must be given to non-European countries within NATO.’ Turkey would also like NATO to do more to combat terrorism. “Rutte must therefore say to Turkey: “Well, I also hear you and I am going to work for what you find important within NATO,” Hahn said.