Turkey Backs Dutch Prime Minister Rutte's Bid for NATO Secretary General

Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch Prime Minister, has secured Turkey's support for his candidacy as NATO Secretary General, a senior Turkish official announced on April 29, 2024. The decision comes three days after Rutte traveled to Turkey to seek support from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his bid. "Turkey has told its NATO allies that Ankara will back the Netherlands' outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's candidacy for the military alliance's secretary general position," the official stated.

The current NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg, is nearing the end of his term, and NATO members are looking to have his successor nominated by the end of April, before competition for top European Union jobs begins in earnest around the June 6-9 elections. NATO secretaries-general are responsible for chairing meetings, guiding consultations among member countries, and ensuring that decisions are put into action.

Turkey and Hungary had earlier expressed reservations about Rutte's candidacy, but Erdogan has now committed to supporting Rutte's bid. During a joint press conference with Rutte in Ankara, Erdogan emphasized that NATO's southern flank needs Turkey and the country has an important role to play. "The next head of NATO should continue the work of the current Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, to lift export restrictions on the defense industry between member states," Erdogan stated.

Why this matters: The selection of the next NATO Secretary General is a critical decision that will shape the alliance's future direction and priorities. With Turkey's backing, Rutte's prospects for securing the top NATO post have significantly improved, potentially impacting the organization's approach to key security challenges and partnerships.

Rutte needs the approval of all 32 members of the alliance to secure the position, as Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is also running for the role. Stoltenberg's term as NATO Secretary General is set to end in October. The broad international support for Rutte's candidacy, including from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, underscores his experience, diplomacy, and consensus-building skills, which are seen as valuable for NATO's leadership during complex geopolitical challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Outgoing Dutch PM Rutte secures Turkey's support for NATO Secretary General bid.
• Current NATO chief Stoltenberg's term ends in October, successor to be nominated by June.
• Turkey and Hungary had reservations, but Erdogan now backs Rutte's candidacy.
• Rutte's selection could impact NATO's approach to security challenges and partnerships.
• Rutte faces competition from Romanian President Iohannis, needs approval from all 32 members.