Mark Rutte will be the next secretary of NATO

Following approvals by Hungary and Slovakia on Tuesday, Romania confirmed its support for Rutte today, with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrawing his candidacy for NATO's top post.

Rutte will take NATO's lead at a critical time. His new work will begin on 2 October, just over a month before the US elections, which will form the fate of the military alliance that has served as Eastern Europe's most successful prevention of an aggressive Russia.

Former US President Donald Trump, the current Republican candidate, has pledged to stay in NATO, but threatened to cut US aid to Ukraine if re-elected.

However, observers estimate Rutte to be a “whisper of Trump”, thanks to his ability to make deals with politicians from different backgrounds, even winning the then US. Praise the president: “I like this guy! ”

The confirmation of Rutte also means that the legacy issue will be resolved before July, when NATO leaders go to Washington to mark the alliance's 75th anniversary.