BUCHAREST: Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is set to make a significant announcement regarding his candidacy for NATO chief on Thursday, as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte appears to be securing the necessary backing to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the head of the defense alliance.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Iohannis hinted at his forthcoming decision, stating, “About NATO, more tomorrow. I will present these issues first to the CSAT (Supreme Council of National Defense), then to the public.” This statement was made alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is visiting Bucharest. Iohannis, 65, promised a full disclosure of his plans by Thursday afternoon.
Iohannis has championed a “renewal of perspective” within NATO, emphasizing Romania’s strategic importance as a member of the alliance’s eastern flank. Since announcing his bid in March, Iohannis has argued that it is time for Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, to “assume an even greater responsibility within the Euro-Atlantic leadership.”
However, the race for the NATO top position has seen a significant shift as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte garners increased support, including a crucial endorsement from Hungary. Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Tuesday that he is “ready to support” Rutte’s candidacy after receiving assurances that Hungary would not be required to participate in coordinated NATO arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Rutte, currently serving as a caretaker prime minister, is expected to step down once a new Dutch government is formed. His potential appointment as NATO chief comes amid a pressing need from leading NATO powers, spearheaded by the United States, to finalize a successor to Stoltenberg ahead of the alliance’s summit meeting in Washington next month.
Romania’s strategic role within NATO has been underscored since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The country, bordering Ukraine and the Black Sea, hosts over 5,000 foreign troops, the largest contingent in NATO’s southeastern region. Iohannis has emphasized Romania’s enhanced strategic importance and the country’s readiness to take on greater leadership responsibilities within NATO.
The selection of a new NATO secretary-general requires the consensus of all 32 alliance members. With Hungary now on board, Rutte’s path to the position appears more certain. Iohannis’s anticipated withdrawal would likely clear the way for Rutte to secure the role.
