The debate over top European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) appointments has intensified, with Eastern European countries challenging the likely nomination of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO's next secretary-general, as reported by Politico on 2024-03-04. Concerns have been raised about Rutte's stance on Russia, with Hungary explicitly stating it cannot support his candidacy, a position announced by Hungary's foreign minister on 2024-03-05. The controversy extends to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who faced criticism for being perceived as too hawkish on Russia. Kallas humorously responded to these allegations by posting a photo of her breakfast on 2024-03-05, debunking claims that she 'eats Russians for breakfast.' The situation underscores the geopolitical tensions within the EU and NATO regarding relations with Russia and the representation of Eastern European countries in top positions.
NEW - Hungary refuses to back Dutch PM for NATO chief https://t.co/tPuCV703tD
Estonian PM Kaja Kallas posts ‘proof’ she doesn’t ‘eat Russians’ for breakfast (But she can't fool us!) Details: https://t.co/kezQe0iRGm https://t.co/mWFfQGSTm8
mark rutte in 2021 on hungary anti-lgbt law: “my goal is to bring hungary to its knees” on the issue hungary foreign minister in 2024, holding a grudge: “we can’t support the election of a person to nato’s secretary general, who previously wanted to force hungary on its knees”
Today @NATO should prioritize candidates for SecGen that will bring the unique optics from the Eastern flank at this perilous moment in Europe’s history that may prove decisive for the future of transatlantic alliance. My take via @RCDefense https://t.co/9TuGPyR6wN
Hungary cannot support Mark Rutte for NATO chief, minister says https://t.co/mllwHYyO5y https://t.co/tujPAqq665
⚠️ HUNGARY CANNOT SUPPORT MARK RUTTE FOR NATO CHIEF, MINISTER SAYS Full Story → https://t.co/WsOT017R9j Hungary's government cannot support Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become NATO's next secretary general, Hungary's foreign minister told a press conference on Tuesday. https://t.co/GgFcx2XpcN
"My breakfast, dear readers of Politico"— Estonian Prime Minister Kaja #Kallas responded to an anonymous statement that she "eats Russians for breakfast." Earlier, the Politico publication published, on condition of anonymity, the words of one official who stated that he did not… https://t.co/YmOHk3DhgN
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas posted a photo of her breakfast in response to a Politico article that claimed the EU didn't want Kallas as the head of European diplomacy because she "likes to eat Russians for breakfast." https://t.co/LjyObb1j5S
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has published a photo of her breakfast to show that she does not "eat Russians," as an EU official claimed to the Politico newspaper Earlier, the publication quoted an unnamed official as saying that the EU did not want Kallas as head of… https://t.co/3APvlFSd26 https://t.co/w0LrmKmSh3
I mean, why give the top jobs in the EU and NATO to people from countries with a living memory of the very tyranny that now threatens the EU and NATO? Crazy, right? https://t.co/HQPpuxI4WT
EU nation’s PM seen as too hawkish on Russia for top diplomat job – Politico https://t.co/2ZxCWn0cSB https://t.co/2kmCn1MfvD
“I don’t see France and Germany agreeing to that, because of the same reasons she was not an option for the NATO job,” the official said. “Are we really putting someone who likes to eat Russians for breakfast in this position?” https://t.co/tYmXJhCASD https://t.co/K8FgFXqaUK
The same people who would veto a CEE NATO SecGen or EU High Rep for Foreign and Security Policy. https://t.co/YwN0VeINv6
Time for CEE as a group to do what Spain did in 1994 on NATO SecGen post: block odds-on favorite Elleman-Jennsen until Solana got the job. Enough of this racism from countries who know nothing about Russia. Germany with its Nordstream 2 deal knows Russia better than Kallas? https://t.co/OzjLEKNZ2i
The EU is not a Western European elite club. It is OUR Union. - CEE leaders have been the ones who have been RIGHT about #Russia, RIGHT about #Ukraine & RIGHT about how we need to position ourselves. High time for top positions for top People eg @GLandsbergis & @kajakallas https://t.co/A1S2P6bovZ
The EU is not a Western European elite club. It is OUR Union. - and CEE leaders have been the ones who have been RIGHT about #Russia, RIGHT about #Ukraine & RIGHG about how we need to position ourselves. High time for top positions for too People eg @GLandsbergis & @kajakallas https://t.co/A1S2P6bovZ
Time to make our countries count. Enough of the outright prejudice toward us EU and NATO "wogs". Blocking appointments is the only way after 20 years of being sh*t upon. We btw still get less in CAP funding even though some of us are richer than "old members" No more of this. https://t.co/OzjLEKNZ2i
"I don’t see France and Germany agreeing to that, because of the same reasons she was not an option for the NATO job,”. “Are we really putting someone who likes to eat Russians for breakfast in this position?" Yes you cowards,it's high time you backed off. https://t.co/UKWqPyAdwU
Time for CEE as a group to do what Spain did in 1984 on NATO SecGen post: block odds-on favorite Elleman-Jennsen until Solana got the job. Enough of this racism from countries who know nothing about Russia. Germany with its Nordstream 2 deal knows Russia better than Kallas? https://t.co/OzjLEKNZ2i
Eastern Europe challenges parity: debate over top EU, NATO appointments intensifies https://t.co/MGc9WMmOes https://t.co/1fw7u4KHkU
“I don’t see France and Germany agreeing to that, because of the same reasons she was not an option for the NATO job. Are we really putting someone who likes to eat Russians for breakfast in this position?” Anti CEE prejudice is amazing. Time to block? https://t.co/Gs9RRcBXPe
🇳🇱 "EU’s newer members are bristling at the likely appointment of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO chief", - Politico 🇪🇪🫡 About Kaja Kallas: "Are we really putting someone who likes to eat Russians for breakfast in this position?", the official said. https://t.co/p71S4CBDGv