(Brussels) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he is “cautiously optimistic” that Hungary will drop its opposition to his appointment as head of NATO, after discussing the matter with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Rutte is widely favored to replace Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary-general by the end of 2024, having received the support of most members of the Atlantic alliance, including the United States. United.
But he has so far encountered opposition from Mr. Orban, and faces competition from Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
“I am cautiously optimistic about Hungary,” Rutte told reporters after meeting Orban on the sidelines of an informal summit of 27 on Monday evening in Brussels.
Mr. Orban had indicated that he was ready to abandon his opposition to Mr. Rutte if the latter apologized after comments on Hungary considered insulting by the nationalist leader, and if Budapest obtained exemption from a strengthening of military aid to Ukraine.
Mr. Rutte assured that Mr. Orban had “not asked for an apology, and I stressed that, of course, I took note” of the reaction of Hungarian society “after what I said there is two years old.”
“We left it there, taking note, looking to the future, and he didn’t ask for an apology,” he stressed.
NATO countries want an agreement on Stoltenberg’s successor before their leaders’ summit in Washington in July.
