Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced his support for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s bid for NATO Secretary-General, after initially opposing it. This endorsement paves the way for Rutte to potentially lead the trans-Atlantic alliance, with only Romanian President Klaus Iohannis as his competition.
Orban’s backing comes after securing a guarantee from Rutte to uphold an agreement made between Orban and current NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg regarding NATO’s role in coordinating arms shipments to Ukraine. Rutte’s assurance prompted Orban to ensure the longevity of their agreement, as depicted in a photo of the two leaders shaking hands.
Within NATO, Hungary has obtained exemption from military support for Ukraine
In addition, President Peter Pellegrini of Slovakia has also thrown his support behind Rutte, likely in exchange for assistance in securing air defense equipment. Rutte is expected to assume office as NATO Secretary-General on October 1, succeeding Stoltenberg, and has acknowledged past criticism of Orban’s government while pledging to treat all allies equally.