The political scientist called Rutte's candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General uncontested

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General is a priority after support from the United States. Political scientist Dmitry Solonnikov shared this opinion with Izvestia on April 29.

“After Rutte was supported by the United States, it actually became clear that he was the only candidate. In all the talk that an alliance is a union of equals, everyone understands that this is not so. There is a main hegemon who determines how the alliance should live; the rest can bargain with the main hegemon, bargaining for some additional preferences, but no more,” the expert said.

According to him, all other applicants for the position are a pure formality.

“We can simply monitor how this stage of trade, the stage of agreement, takes place. Some agree immediately and quickly and consider it right for themselves to demonstrate maximum support for the United States, while others will try to get something extra for themselves,” Solonnikov said, adding that the result is still a foregone conclusion.

The political scientist complained that Rutte’s election does not bode well for the Russian Federation - the prime minister holds anti-Russian views, like the current head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Türkiye supported Rutte's candidacy. It was noted that he was on a visit to the country last week, where he spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Allegedly, the Prime Minister now only has to enlist the support of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.

In early April, it was reported that Rutte’s candidacy was supported by 28 of the 32 alliance countries. However, the appointment will only be possible with unanimous approval from all states of the bloc.

The Financial Times newspaper in early March called Rutte a compromise candidate for the post of secretary general who could unite a fragmented coalition. It was noted that he is supported by the majority of NATO leaders.

The term of office of the current head of NATO, Stoltenberg, who has led the military-political bloc since 2014, ends in October.