The Biden administration has expressed gratitude to Romania for its President Klaus Iohannis withdrawing from the race to lead NATO, stating that this move will help ensure the Western military alliance stays focused. The decision by President Iohannis, announced on Thursday, clears the way for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to take the top job. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Romanian counterpart, Luminița-Teodora Odobescu, at the State Department, where he praised Romania’s role in the alliance, saying it has played a critical role in ensuring NATO’s focus, particularly on its eastern flank.
Blinken highlighted Romania’s leadership in the alliance, stating that the country has taken its alliance responsibilities seriously. Romania’s withdrawal from the race is seen as a sign of its commitment to the alliance, with two US officials suggesting that it demonstrates a seriousness in taking its role seriously. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, shares a border with Ukraine and has played a significant role in the alliance, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden
The decision removes the last major hurdle for Rutte’s appointment, paving the way for a united show of support for war-torn Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit. Rutte’s appointment would be sealed by a meeting of NATO ambassadors or by the leaders during the summit, with his official start date set for October 1st. As NATO Secretary-General, Rutte would be responsible for chairing meetings and guiding discussions among the 32 member countries, ensuring the alliance’s continued functionality through consensus-based decision-making.
NATO operates on a consensus-based system, giving any member country an effective veto on decisions, including whether to participate in joint efforts or operations. Rutte has been the preferred candidate of the majority of NATO allies, including the US and Germany, for months, indicating a strong consensus behind his appointment.
