Mark Rutte announced in July 2023 that he was resigning as prime minister of the Netherlands and "retiring from politics" after his government coalition collapsed over differences in migration policy.

By October of that year, however, Rutte had seemingly forgotten all about his vow to leave politics, signalling his interest in succeeding NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who had announced he would finally leave the post in September 2024 after a decade at the helm of the alliance.

For months, Rutte ran a discreet one-man campaign to win over NATO leaders, most of whom he already knew from more than 13 years as Dutch prime minister, and from working with various international bodies. The trained historian was the favored candidate of US President Joe Biden, as well as of most European leaders.

One diplomat told DW that Rutte is seen as "Mr. No" on the European Union side of town because he has rejected ambitious reform plans and ideas floated by French President Emmanuel Macron. Rutte does, however, get on well with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

He is also on good terms with Italy's right-wing populist prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. Together, Rutte and Meloni have suggested processing asylum applications outside the EU in third-party states.

But winning over Hungary's right-wing nationalist........

© Deutsche Welle