Ankara has informed its NATO partners that it will support the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the position of NATO Secretary General, according to a senior Turkish official on Monday.
The official revealed that Turkey communicated its decision to diplomats from NATO member countries in Brussels earlier in the day.
This announcement follows Rutte’s recent visit to Turkey where he sought endorsement from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his bid. Speaking on the condition of anonymity in accordance with Turkish government procedures, the official confirmed the development.
The current NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister of Norway, has held the role as NATO’s top civilian official since 2014 and is approaching the end of his tenure.
With his term extended multiple times amidst the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the alliance sought continuity in leadership.
Earlier on, both Turkey and Hungary had expressed reservations regarding Rutte’s candidacy, with Erdogan refraining from commitments during a joint press briefing with Rutte last Friday.
NATO officials and diplomats aim to finalize the selection of Stoltenberg’s successor by the end of April, in anticipation of heightened competition for top positions within the European Union around the June 6-9 elections.
They are eager to prevent any potentially divisive issues from overshadowing the alliance’s 75th-anniversary summit scheduled to take place in Washington in July.
The NATO Secretary General plays a crucial role in presiding over meetings and facilitating discussions amongst member countries to ensure the organization’s functioning based on consensus. They are responsible for translating decisions into actions and representing the collective voices of all NATO members.
