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Turkey Backs Candidacy of Outgoing Dutch PM Rutte for NATO Chief

Joe Biden

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Anders Åslund

Taras Kuzio

Andriy Zagorodnyuk

Sergei Ryabkov

Maria Zakharova

Robert Lansing Institute

The Institute for the Study of War

Harun Yilmaz

Max Bergmann

Ihor Romanenko

Metaculus

"Russia has never hatched, is not hatching and will never hatch any plans to attack anyone."

"These military exercises, drills, are purely defensive and are not a threat to any other country."

"We [Russians] learn from US newspapers that we will attack Ukraine."

"The geopolitical objective of Russia today is clearly not Ukraine."

"Right now, the people's biggest enemy is panic in our country [Ukraine]."

"There is a risk for a full-fledged invasion."

"We are talking about the real possibility of war in Europe."

"One way or another, [Putin] wants Ukraine neutralized."

Russia is looking for "an excuse to go in."

"[A]n invasion could be imminent, and it is highly likely."

"Russia may launch an attack on Ukraine on Saturday, February 19, 2022."

"As of this moment I'm convinced he's made the decision" and an assault could occur in the "coming days."

Will Russia Invade Ukraine?

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Viktor Mihály Orbán

Ofra Bengio

Magdalena Andersson

David Pressman

Mélanie Joly

Katalin Cseh

Kurt Volker

Devlet Bahçeli

Martin Hurt

Peter Viggo Jakobsen

Carl Hvenmark Nilsson

Will Sweden Join NATO?

Mitch McConnell

Sanna Marin

Suvi Turtiainen

Katharine AM Wright

Alistair Shepherd

Helmi Pillai

Sauli Niinisto

Alexander Stubb

"In the absence of a clear and present danger... from Russia, membership is not a viable option for Finnish or Swedish decisionmakers."

Finland is "very unlikely" to apply for a NATO membership during my current term in office.

"Finland will not apply for membership without Sweden."

"The accession of either of these two countries [Sweden or Finland] is anything but imminent."

"Anyone who is hoping for an immediate application for NATO membership, they're going to be disappointed."

Turkey "might veto the entrance of Finland and Sweden into NATO."

"Turkey is clearly the more significant barrier for Finland and Sweden's accession into the alliance."

"Finland strengthens its own security by joining NATO."

"If the applications [to join NATO] are made, I'd... expect to see membership granted this year."

Will Finland Join NATO?

Earlier this month, Rutte cleared a big hurdle after securing the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Given that there is no formal procedure to choose a NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate.

NATO

Al Jazeera

The Washington Post

EuroNews

Breitbart #772

Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, is set to become the next NATO secretary-general as last holdout Romania confirmed its support for him on Thursday after its president, Klaus Iohannis, withdrew his candidacy.

According to the New York Times, an official announcement could come as soon as next week, ahead of a high-level summit in Washington. Rutte would be appointed to a four-year term starting in October.

The New York Times

The New York Times #

According to the New York Times, an official announcement could come as soon as next week, ahead of a high-level summit in Washington. Rutte would be appointed for a four-year term starting in October.

According to the New York Times, a formal announcement could come as soon as next week, ahead of a high-level summit in Washington, D.C. Rutte would be appointed for a four-year term starting in October.

The Dutch leader cleared a big hurdle earlier this week after securing the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Given that there is no formal procedure to choose a NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate.

The Washington Post #

NATO #

EuroNews #

The Dutch leader cleared a big hurdle earlier this week after securing the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Given that there is no formal procedure to choose NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate.

Given that there is no formal procedure to choose NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate. Earlier this week, the Dutch leader cleared a big hurdle after winning the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán.

Earlier this week, the Dutch leader cleared a big hurdle after securing the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán. Given that there is no formal procedure to choose NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate.

Given that there is no formal procedure to choose NATO chief, allies must reach a consensus on a candidate. Earlier this week, the Dutch leader cleared a big hurdle after securing the support of Hungary's Viktor Orbán.

If confirmed, the lengthy process to find a replacement for Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will finally be concluded after four extensions to his term, which was initially set to expire in 2018.

If confirmed, the lengthy process of finding a replacement for Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will finally be concluded after four extensions to his term.

The secretary-general guides discussions among member countries, facilitates the decision-making process and ensures that decisions are implemented, while also serving as the main spokesperson for the alliance.

The secretary-general guides discussions among member countries, facilitates the decision-making process, and ensures that decisions are implemented, while also serving as the main spokesperson for the alliance.

Leading the Netherlands since 2010, Rutte will step down from his domestic role on July 2. He pledged last weekend that the incoming Dutch coalition government — of which his [center-right] VVD party is a member — will continue to support Ukraine.

NATO will face many major challenges in the months ahead — including the continuing war in Ukraine and a possible return of Donald Trump to the US presidency — and Rutte is the best person to lead the alliance. He's a low-key, well-connected politician who can unite the allies and bolster both defense and deterrence policies.

Guardian

Guardian #3735

US and UK endorse Dutch PM Mark Rutte as next Nato chief

The Telegraph

The Telegraph #

The right man must lead Nato, or risk Trump’s wrath

Metaculus2

Ukraine NATO Membership before 2035

Pier Marco Tacca/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Mark Rutte Set to Be Next NATO Chief

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***GETTY UPDATED IMAGE*** Pier Marco Tacca/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Mark Rutte Officially Appointed as Next NATO Chief

Mark Rutte Officially Appointed as Next NATO Chief

Mark Rutte SetOfficially toAppointed Beas Next NATO Chief

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Mark Rutte Officially Appointed as Next NATO Chief

Mark Rutte SetOfficially toAppointed Beas Next NATO Chief

The Controversies

Peskov

Putin

Zakharova

Macron

Zelenskyy

Stoltenberg

Harris

Hill

Nuland

Truss

War

Biden

Jakobsen

Marin

Turtiainen

Hurt

Stubb

Bengio

Pillai

Niinisto

Wright

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