Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from his candidacy for NATO Secretary General. Instead, Romania supports Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister, for the top position in the Alliance, which marks a key moment in the dynamics of NATO leadership, Reuters and News.bg report.
As a sign of solidarity and support, Romania's Supreme Defense Council has agreed to donate one of its two operational Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. However, the decision is dependent on discussions with allies to ensure that Romania can secure a similar air defense system in return.
In March, President Iohannis publicly announced his intention to run for NATO Secretary General, a role many member states had earmarked for Mark Rutte. Dutch media have recently emphasized that Rutte's path to becoming NATO chief appears clear, with his selection at the upcoming July meeting in Washington seen as a mere formality. Despite Romania's initial offer of President Iohannis for the post of NATO Secretary General, as reported by Bloomberg in February, the Romanian presidency remained silent on the nomination.
President Iohannis was once considered a potential successor to Jens Stoltenberg, the current NATO Secretary General, before Stoltenberg's term was extended.
Romania's strategic orientation in supporting Mark Rutte for NATO leadership and its commitment to help Ukraine reflect the country's active engagement in international defense and alliance policy.