The southern wing of NATO needs Turkey’s leadership, this is important from the point of view of the stability of the region, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and candidate for the post of Secretary General of the alliance said.
⠀
“From the point of view of the stability of the entire region and the overall transatlantic relationship, the southern wing of NATO needs Turkey, it needs Turkish leadership,” Rutte said.
⠀
“Turkey plays a decisive role. At the same time, it is making efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza,” the politician noted, also adding that Ankara is “taking measures” to cope with the “terrible” conflict in Ukraine.
⠀
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the new Secretary General must best serve the security and interests of alliance members in the fight against terrorism and other challenges, strengthen the unity of the alliance and prioritize NATO’s primary role, reaffirm the core values and established practices of the alliance, and also take into account the sensitivity of allies.
