4. Eastern flank grievances
Countries bordering Russia are not Rutte’s biggest fans.
They were angry about low Dutch defense spending and are particularly upset that the top role at NATO has always gone to a Western or Northern European, even though eastern flank countries have been in the alliance for a quarter of a century.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas didn’t enter the NATO top job race after being told she wouldn’t get the support of countries such as the U.S., France and Germany (she’s now the frontrunner to be the next EU foreign policy chief). They feared her…
