WASHINGTON

Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday he believes Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is a "very strong" candidate to succeed him as the head of NATO.

Stoltenberg added that Rutte has a lot of experience as prime minister. "I therefore strongly believe that very soon, the alliance will have decided on my successor," he said at a news conference in Washington, DC, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Stoltenberg’s term is scheduled to end Oct. 1 after 10 years.