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Join Telegram Channel- Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte appears likely to become NATO's next secretary general since Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from the race.
- Hungary lifted its veto on Rutte's candidacy after he guaranteed he would not force the country to participate in NATO plans to support Ukraine.
- Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has proven difficult to replace. The next NATO leader was due to be named in July 2023, but no consensus could be found on the issue.
The Romanian president has withdrawn from the race to be NATO's next secretary general, leaving outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte almost certain to lead the world's largest military organization from October.
President Klaus Iohannis' office said in a statement that the Romanian Security Council had supported Rutte's candidacy. He also said Iohannis informed NATO late last week of his intention to withdraw.
His withdrawal removes the last real obstacle Rutte could face. This should allow NATO to show unity and solidarity with war-ravaged Ukraine when US President Joe Biden and his counterparts meet in Washington from July 9-11 to mark the 75th anniversary of the NATO.
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NATO's secretaries general are responsible for chairing meetings and guiding sometimes delicate consultations among the 32 member countries to ensure that an organization that operates by consensus can continue to function.
Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks to the media at the end of an EU summit in Brussels on June 18, 2024. Since Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from the race to become the next secretary general of the NATO, Rutte seems likely to get the job. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
On Tuesday, Hungary lifted its veto on Rutte's candidacy after the longtime Dutch prime minister gave written guarantees that he would not force Budapest to participate in the military alliance's new plans to support Ukraine if he was appointed.
Turkey had also expressed opposition to Rutte's candidacy, but lifted its objections in April.
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Rutte has for months been the preferred candidate of the majority of NATO allies, including major members like the United States and Germany.
In office for a decade, outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg played a consistent role at the helm of NATO and proved difficult to replace.
Biden and his NATO counterparts were expected to name a successor when they met in Lithuania in July 2023, but no consensus could be reached on a replacement.