Outgoing Dutch PM Rutte wins race to be next leader of Nato

The outgoing Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has won the race to become the head of Nato at a perilous moment for the western alliance, after his only rival withdrew his bid.

- Jennifer Rankin

The long-serving Dutch leader is expected to be confirmed formally as Nato's secretary general in the coming days and take over when Jens Stoltenberg steps down on 1 October after nearly a decade in charge.

Rutte's imminent appointment comes as Ukraine faces relentless pressure from Russian bombardment in its eastern regions, while the Nato-sceptic Donald Trump vies for another term in the White House.

Rutte, 57, is a strong supporter of Ukraine and quickly won the support of key Nato countries, including the US, the UK, France and Germany, after he threw his hat in the ring following his decision to retire from Dutch politics.

Although he is a critic of Vladimir Putin, Rutte could be seen as less hawkish than possible candidates from central and eastern Europe, making him a near consensus choice.

But to secure the job, which requires unanimous agreement of Nato's 32 members, he had to win an endorsement from a wary Turkey, then overcome opposition from Hungary.

The final hurdle fell yesterday when the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, announced he was withdrawing from the race. Romania will back Rutte and donate one of its two operational Patriot missile systems to Ukraine on condition that allies replace it with a similar air defence system, Bucharest's supreme defence council, chaired by Iohannis, said.