Photo: Dutch Prime Minister Rutte meets with reporters in Brussels on the 17th. \Associated Press
[Ta Kung Pao]According to Reuters: Several foreign media disclosed that after obtaining the support of Hungary and Slovakia, the key obstacle for Dutch Prime Minister Rutte to take over the post of NATO Secretary-General has been cleared.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban said on the 18th that he had previously agreed with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg that Hungary would not prevent NATO from providing assistance to Ukraine, but would not participate in it. Given that Rutte promised to agree to this arrangement after he becomes NATO Secretary General, Hungary will support him in taking up the position.
Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Blinken on the 18th that with Orban’s statement, NATO is very close to reaching a result on the issue of selecting the next Secretary-General. He pointed out that Rutte is a strong candidate and believes that NATO will make a decision soon.
The appointment of NATO Secretary-General requires the consent of all 32 member states. Rutte and Romanian President Iohannis are potential candidates for this position. Sources confirmed that Romania is the only country that has not yet expressed its support for Rutte, and Iohannis will announce his withdrawal from the election in the near future.
Stoltenberg’s term will end in October this year. Rutte is currently the caretaker prime minister of the Netherlands and will step down after the new Dutch government is formed in July. Rutte has been one of the active promoters of European military aid to Ukraine. Analysts point out that the challenge facing the next NATO Secretary-General is how to maintain support for Ukraine while avoiding the escalation of the situation to the point of dragging NATO directly into a war with Russia.
source: china