Outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte neared his goal of becoming NATO's

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Pertaining to the video, Claudy Gassant bay dele pou tout anplwaye leta fè deklarasyon patrimwàn yo, Outgoing Dutch PM Mark Rutte neared his goal of becoming NATO's next secretary-general with both Hungary and Slovakia indicating today they'd support his bid -- leaving Romania as the final holdout.

Getting their support involved making some promises.

Rutte met on Monday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and agreed to allow Hungary -- the alliance's most pro-Russia member -- to opt out of efforts to help Ukraine, but Budapest will not oppose efforts by the rest of the alliance to do so.

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"We agreed that no Hungarian personnel will take part in the activities of NATO in Ukraine and no Hungarian funds will be used to support them," Orbán said today on X, adding: "In light of his pledge, Hungary is ready to support PM Rutte's bid for NATO Secretary-General."

Slovakia, another holdout against backing Rutte, also indicated it may back him. Like Hungary, Slovakia's new government leans toward Moscow and has said it will not send weapons to help Ukraine.

"After consultations with both candidates and after consultations with Prime Minister Robert Fico and the Slovak government, the Slovak Republic can imagine supporting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the head of the alliance," Slovak President Peter Pellegrini told a televised news briefing today.

Pellegrini added that he had talked to Rutte about NATO helping protect Slovakia's airspace until it beefs up its own capabilities.

Those moves leave Romania -- whose President Klaus Iohannis is running against Rutte -- as the sole NATO ally not yet backing the Dutch PM. The new alliance chief has to get the support of all 32 members.

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