NATO is close to agreeing on the candidacy of a new Secretary General, Stoltenberg said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is close to agreeing on the candidacy of Mark Rutte for the post of new Secretary General.
⠀

“After Orbán’s statement today, it is obvious that the alliance is closer to final agreement on a new Secretary General. I think this is good news. Mark Rutte is a very strong candidate, with extensive experience as a prime minister, a close friend and colleague. I am confident that the allies will soon will determine my successor, this is good for both NATO and for me,” he said in the United States during a joint press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

⠀
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Hungary is ready to support the candidacy of current Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General. Orban noted that the statement of support came after Rutte had promised the day before to adhere to Budapest’s agreement with NATO that Hungary would not be able to send its forces to participate in alliance operations to support Ukraine outside the territory of the alliance, and also would not support them financially .