Dutch Prime Minister Virtually Confirmed as Next NATO Secretary General

Romanian Presidential Candidate Withdraws

Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, has been virtually confirmed as the next Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the largest military alliance in the West.

According to major foreign media on the 20th (local time), the Romanian Presidential Office announced that President Klaus Iohannis of Romania informed NATO allies last week that he would withdraw from the candidacy for the next NATO Secretary General.

The Romanian Supreme Defense Council also announced on the same day that it supports Prime Minister Rutte as the next NATO Secretary General.

The nomination of the NATO Secretary General requires unanimous consent from member countries. Romania, which was the only country opposing Prime Minister Rutte, reversed its position to support him on this day, virtually confirming Rutte's nomination as NATO Secretary General.

The current Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, will end his term on October 1.

Meanwhile, the Romanian Supreme Defense Council announced on the same day that it has decided to support Ukraine with one of the two Patriot missile batteries it operates.