Candidate for post of NATO Sec.-Gen. Rutte wants to enlist Erdogan's support

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is likely to throw his weight behind Mark Rutte to become the next NATO chief within weeks after the Dutch prime minister visits Istanbul on April 26, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.

Türkiye’s backing is likely in turn to prompt Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to back away from his own bid for the post.

Rutte is paying for the trip to Istanbul with his own money, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, as the Dutch leader looks to shore up support from Türkiye to back him to succeed NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg when he steps down from his post in October.

Erdogan is expected to make his decision after receiving Rutte, according to several Turkish officials familiar with the president’s thinking. They said the president is likely to favor the Dutch leader’s candidacy but that the decision ultimately rests with Erdogan himself.

The top NATO job will be critical in the years ahead, amid growing doubts about the US commitment to Europe and the potential victory of former president Donald Trump. The NATO chief will have to continue corralling allies’ support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia, while also preventing any further escalation between Moscow and the military alliance.

Although Rutte isn’t pleased with the recent signals from Hungary, he believes he can get Türkiye and Hungary on board, according to people familiar with his thinking.

Türkiye is keen to ensure that the next NATO chief won’t have a bias toward the alliance’s European Union members, Bloomberg reported previously. Meanwhile, countries from the eastern flank have raised the issue of geographic representation in talks with Rutte, who has assured them that it’s on his radar.