Romania’s president has withdrawn from the race to become NATO’s next secretary general, paving the way for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to likely assume the role starting in October. The decision was announced by the office of President Klaus Iohannis, stating that Romania’s security council has endorsed Rutte’s candidacy and that Iohannis had formally notified NATO of his withdrawal.
This development eliminates the main obstacle in Rutte’s path to assuming the leadership of NATO, setting the stage for a display of unity within the organization. The timing aligns with a crucial meeting in Washington on July 9-11, where U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders will convene to commemorate NATO’s 75th anniversary and show support for Ukraine.
