Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has withdrawn from the race to guide NATO, clearing the best way for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to change into the subsequent secretary-general of the transatlantic army alliance.
All different NATO members had already backed Rutte, a staunch ally of Ukraine and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to take over from Jens Stoltenberg, who’s stepping down this yr after a decade in cost.
With the struggle in Ukraine on NATO’s doorstep and European nations involved in regards to the potential return of NATO-critical Donald Trump to the White Home, alliance members concluded the extremely skilled Rutte was the most effective particular person for the publish.
Because it introduced Iohannis’ determination, Romania’s supreme defence council stated it might donate one of many nation’s two operational Patriot techniques to Ukraine, responding to pleas from Kyiv to its allies for extra air defence help.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated Romania’s determination “will bolster our air defend and assist us higher shield our individuals and significant infrastructure from Russian air terror”.
The supreme council, which is chaired by Iohannis, stated the president had knowledgeable NATO final week of his determination to withdraw and Romania would now help Rutte’s candidacy.
With all 32 NATO members now backing the Dutchman, diplomats stated they anticipated the alliance’s governing North Atlantic Council to formally choose him for the publish within the coming days.
Rutte will face the problem of sustaining allies’ help for Ukraine’s struggle in opposition to Russia’s invasion, whereas guarding in opposition to any escalation that would draw NATO immediately right into a struggle with Russia.
Beneath Rutte, the Netherlands has in recent times ramped up defence spending above NATO’s goal of two per cent of GDP.
It’s offering F-16 fighter jets, artillery, drones and ammunition to Ukraine in addition to investing closely in its personal army.
Norwegian ex-premier Stoltenberg’s time period on the helm of NATO will finish on October 1.
He took workplace in 2014, just some months after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
