Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit Turkey on Friday, potentially securing support for his candidacy as the next NATO secretary general, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Rutte, who has made an initial application for the top NATO position, is reported to have the backing of 28 out of the 32 NATO member states. The Dutch leader has been actively seeking to consolidate support for his candidacy ahead of the formal decision expected by the end of May.
During his visit Rutte plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss his candidacy. The meeting’s focus will be solely on NATO matters, and Rutte will personally cover the travel expenses, as confirmed by the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst, the information service of the Dutch government.
Turkey has not yet publicly declared its support for Rutte, and the decision is likely to rest on Erdoğan’s evaluation of the Dutch prime minister’s proposals and Turkey’s strategic interests within NATO. Earlier communications between Rutte and Erdoğan last month indicated that Turkey would support a candidate based on its national expectations and requirements.
Other NATO members, including Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, have not yet clarified their stance on Rutte’s candidacy.
Romania’s recent bid for the NATO chief post by President Klaus Iohannis has introduced uncertainty into the selection process, although it is perceived by some officials as too late to significantly impact Rutte’s chances.
The necessity for unanimous approval among NATO member states means that the support of each country is crucial. Hungary, in particular, could present a challenge for Rutte, given past criticisms by the Dutch leader about democratic backsliding under Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.