Mark Rutte went to Istanbul on an economy plane paid for from his own pocket, Klaus Iohannis travels on a luxury private plane and keeps the costs secret

Last Friday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul to ask for his support at the head of NATO. His strategy has been successful, with Erdogan announcing today that he is backing Rutte over Klaus Iohannis. And the Dutch press writes that Rutte surprised the Turks with the way he organized his trip.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte paid for his own trip to Istanbul, where he lobbied for the NATO presidency. He bought economy class plane tickets and hotel accommodation and surprised the Turks

Thus, Rutte went to Turkey at his own expense to support his candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General. The interim prime minister bought two economy class plane tickets for himself and an adviser who accompanied him. Rutte also paid the hotel costs from his own funds, according to De Telegraaf.

The low-key way in which the Dutch prime minister traveled to Turkey caused some surprise and discomfort among Turkish officials, who are used to receiving important visitors with full honors.

A prime minister paying for a plane ticket to Istanbul is not common in Turkey, but Rutte thought it inappropriate to use the government plane for his own “candidacy”, according to De Telegraaf.

Rutte’s behavior is in total contrast to that of President Klaus Iohannis, his counter-candidate for NATO leadership. President Iohannis has been traveling in luxury private jets for years, without taking the ministers in the delegation with him, as happened this month in South Korea.

Moreover, Klaus Iohannis refuses to make public the costs of travel on luxury aircraft.

Both militarily and strategically, Turkey is an important pillar within NATO. All 32 NATO member countries must agree to the appointment of a Secretary General. Right now, Rutte only needs to convince Slovakia, Hungary and Romania to get the job.

His only opponent is President Klaus Iohannis, who has not received public support from any NATO member state.

President Erdogan wanted to make his role felt by personally conveying Ankara’s wishes to Mark Rutte. Thus, the head of state requested attention for the fight against terrorism and the role in the southern flank of the alliance.

Rutte praised Turkey as a “crucial ally” during the press conference. Despite past differences of opinion, Erdogan and Rutte get along well on a personal level, the Dutch publication says.

The Bloomberg press office reported last week that the Romanian president could withdraw after the support given by the Turks. In this case, Slovakia and Hungary remain. In particular, the opposition of Viktor Orbán, who received the visit of PVV leader Geert Wilders on Friday, is considered difficult in NATO circles.

Orbán is furious over Rutte’s past inappropriate claims about Hungary’s deficient rule of law. Experts in Brussels say at the same time that the leader of the government often barks loudly, but does not bite. However, he often wants something in return for a change of heart.

The Americans want to avoid at all costs that the succession issue overshadows the NATO summit in Washington in July. NATO sources told the Telegraaf that the US hopes that the meeting of NATO foreign ministers at the end of May in Prague will be when the new secretary general will be announced.