Former Dutch premier Mark Rutte looks set to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the next secretary-general of Nato after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban dropped his opposition and Slovakia also signalled its support, according to media reports on June 19. 

Orban posted on the X platform saying Hungary is ready for Rutte's bid after he pledged to uphold an agreement on Hungary's non-participation in Nato support for Ukraine.

Orban noted that Hungary had reached an agreement a week earlier with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, under which the country would not participate in the Nato support for Ukraine with troops or financing.

Stoltenberg also announced that “it is obvious that we are very close to a conclusion” and that he strongly believes that “the alliance will soon decide who will be my successor”. 

Stoltenberg visited Budapest three days after the EP elections, where the two sides agreed that Hungary would not block Nato decisions on providing support for Ukraine

Hungary’s leader met with his Dutch peer in Brussels on Monday ahead of the informal summit of the EU, where Rutte confirmed that he fully supports that agreement.

"Our next step this week was to ensure that this agreement can stand the test of time", he tweeted.

Orban initially supported Romanian President Klaus Iohannis for the post as his relations with his Dutch counterpart has been fraught with tensions.

Rutte has been a vocal critic of Orbán's government regarding the rule of law and democratic values. The Dutch premier has expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and judicial independence in Hungary, among with other issues under Orban's leadership.

Orban had previously demanded an apology for Rutte's remarks but the former Dutch premier merely noted the issue on June 18, “As discussed, I also took note that some remarks I made in 2021 as prime minister of the Netherlands has caused dissatisfaction in Hungary,” Rutte wrote.

According to the Hungarian prime minister, he was offered assurances that the new Nato chief’s aim was to "treat all allies with the same level of understanding".

Slovakia, whose government has often backed its neighbour's stands, has also now dropped its opposition to Rutte.

Romania is now expected to withdraw its candidate, President Klaus Iohannis, in order for the 32 members of the defence alliance to reach a decision by consensus before the Nato summit on July 9.