(Brussels) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the possibility that Hungary will drop its opposition to his appointment as head of NATO, after discussing the matter with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Mr. 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 that of 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 regarding Hungary,” Mr. Rutte told the press, after meeting Mr. Orban on the sidelines of an informal summit of the 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 the military aid to Ukraine.
Mr. Rutte assured that Mr. Orban had “not demanded an apology, and I stressed that, of course, I took note” of the reaction of Hungarian society “after what I said there two years old.”
“We left it there, taking note, looking to the future, and he did not ask for an apology,” he stressed.
NATO countries want an agreement on Mr Stoltenberg’s successor before their leaders’ summit in Washington in July.