Supported by Ankara and President Erdogan as NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte: Türkiye is an Influential Geopolitical Actor

JAKARTA - Turkey has decided to support the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish officials said on Monday.

Ankara told NATO it would support Rutte after the Dutch Prime Minister met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul last Friday.

"NATO's southern wing needs Turkey and its leadership," said PM Rutte at a joint press conference with President Erdogan, quoted by Daily Sabah, April 30.

"Turkey is a geopolitical actor that has significant influence in the region. They are trying to help end the war in Gaza. They are also making efforts related to the terrible war in Ukraine," explained PM Rutte.

President Erdogan himself has assured that Turkey's decision will be within the "framework of strategic wisdom and fairness" with regard to the new NATO leader.

Ankara expects the new head of the military bloc to "serve the needs and interests of allies" regarding counterterrorism and take into account "the sensitivities of non-EU member allies."

PM Rutte is known to be one of the candidates mentioned to replace Jens Stoltenberg as secretary general of the 31-nation Western military alliance.

However, he needs the support of every NATO member country to assume this position. Currently, no other candidates have been announced publicly.

So far, PM Rutte has received strong support from Britain, Germany, and the United States. Meanwhile, Hungary expressed its rejection.