Turkey has informed the allies that it will support Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s candidacy for NATO Secretary General, Turkish officials said, as quoted by Anatolia news agency on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, the ANP news agency wrote about Turkish support for the Dutchman, citing Alliance officials. Turkey has so far been one of four countries that have not officially announced whether they will support Rutte’s candidacy, Reuters points out.
A meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Dutch Prime Minister was held in Istanbul on Friday. The Turkish leader did not say who Turkey would support as NATO chief, saying only that Ankara would make the choice “within the framework of strategic wisdom and justice.”
At the end of September, the alliance’s current secretary general, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, is expected to step down. His successor will likely be chosen at the alliance summit scheduled for July 9–11 in Washington.
NATO secretary-generals are appointed with the unanimous consent, or at least the absence of opposition, of all member states. Following Sweden’s accession to NATO, the alliance now entails 32 countries.
Mark Rutte, who has announced his departure from national politics, can count on the support of most alliance countries, including the U.S., Britain, and Germany. The Dutchman’s candidacy is not supported by Hungary.
A meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Dutch Prime Minister was held in Istanbul on Friday. The Turkish leader did not say who Turkey would support as NATO chief, saying only that Ankara would make the choice “within the framework of strategic wisdom and justice.”
At the end of September, the alliance’s current secretary general, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, is expected to step down. His successor will likely be chosen at the alliance summit scheduled for July 9–11 in Washington.
NATO secretary-generals are appointed with the unanimous consent, or at least the absence of opposition, of all member states. Following Sweden’s accession to NATO, the alliance now entails 32 countries.
Mark Rutte, who has announced his departure from national politics, can count on the support of most alliance countries, including the U.S., Britain, and Germany. The Dutchman’s candidacy is not supported by Hungary.
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