Below NATO guidelines, the secretary-general needs to be determined ”by consensus,” which means that Rutte nonetheless has to garner the backing of all of the remaining nations.
The official mentioned that the discussions ”aren’t ultimate” however added: ”There’s rising momentum behind his candidacy.”
Stress is rising on NATO members to approve Rutte earlier than the leaders’ summit in Washington in July. He would exchange Jens Stoltenberg, who has helmed NATO since 2014.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith mentioned final week that allies ought to intention at ”finishing the choice course of most likely within the first quarter of this calendar yr.”
One other senior NATO official confirmed the variety of nations that also must help Rutte, saying that round 10 have been nonetheless holding again from a sure vote.
”We’ll proceed to listen to their questions and issues,” the primary official mentioned. ”And we encourage … the Dutch mission at NATO to reply these questions.”