NATO: Rutte Gains Hungary Backing After Assuring Orban Of Ukraine Funds Opt-Out

Outdoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte appears to have removed the potential obstacle to him taking over the NATO secretary general's position, with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban seemingly offering his support. Orban previously secured opt-outs from incumbent Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg regardin Hungarian boots on the ground in Ukraine, or Hungarian funds being sent to Kyiv. Orban posts on X: "...Our next step this week was to ensure that this agreement can stand the test of time. After yesterday’s meeting in Brussels, PM Mark Rutte confirmed that he fully supports this deal and will continue to do so, should he become the next Secretary General of NATO. In light of his pledge, Hungary is ready to support PM Rutte’s bid for NATO Secretary-General."

• While a prospective NATO sec-gen does not need unanimous backing of member states, gaining this is viewed as preferable as a signal of the alliance's unity. 
• Stoltenberg's term expires on 1 October, by which time Rutte is likely to have stepped down as Dutch PM following the coalition agreement reached in the Netherlands earlier in June.