Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s chances of becoming NATO Secretary General have increased after France and Germany openly backed him alongside the United States and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, an alternative candidate has emerged.
« President Biden strongly supports the candidacy of Prime Minister Rutte because he deeply understands the importance of the alliance and his leadership would serve NATO well at this critical moment, » said a US official. In Berlin, Rutte was described as an « excellent candidate ». The British Foreign Office said he was « deeply respected in NATO and has a strong track record on security and defence issues ».
It has been suggested that Rutte’s attitude towards Moscow is softer than that of Ursula von der Leyen, who was discouraged from running for office.
She might even ‘butt in’ with Donald Trump if he is re-elected US president. Under Rutte, the Netherlands has long failed to meet NATO’s commitment to raise military spending to 2 per cent of GDP. According to Euractiv, this has now been « about » achieved. Trump has previously made radical statements that he would not abide by Article 5 on the common defence of NATO members and would even « encourage Russia to attack those who do not spend enough on defence ».
Some unnamed Eastern European countries are « unhappy » with Rutte because « he hasn’t bothered to meet with us… we don’t know what his plans are on Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Donald Trump, » an Eastern European diplomat told Politico.
Romania has informed the Allies of its nomination of Head of State Klaus Ioannis – Bloomberg reported. As the news agency puts it, Bucharest has « stuck a poker between its spokes ». However, sources told him that « the Romanian attempt is simply delaying a process that will end with Rutte as secretary-general anyway ».
NATO member states want to reach an agreement by the Brussels summit in early April, timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s founding.
Euractiv notes that the Dutch prime minister, who will leave his post this year, has good relations with British, EU and US leaders, including Trump. « Stop whining about Trump and step up your defence of Ukraine, » he told his European counterparts recently.
Among other countries, Poland has not yet declared its candidacy, nor have Hungary and Turkey, described by Euractiv as « potential holdouts ».
Photo: presidency.ro
