Romanian analysts expect major tactical battles in connection with the election of the new NATO Secretary General, and Klaus Iohannis’ self-nomination announced on Tuesday is part of this. For the time being, it is likely that, in addition to Hungary, the Baltic states, Poland, Bulgaria and Turkey, which has the second largest army in the military alliance, will line up as opponents of Mark Rutte’s nomination.
So far, twenty-two NATO member states support the Dutch Prime Minister as Jens Stoltenberg’s successor, and Hungary has publicly announced that it does not want to see Mark Rutte at the head of the military alliance. Sabina Fati, the well-known publicist of Deutsche Welle, writes that Klaus Iohannis can currently count on Romania-Hungary doubles. Bulgaria, whose Schengen accession was blocked for years by the Rutte-led Netherlands, may also join the supporters of the Romanian head of state. According to Fati, the countries of the former Warsaw Pact can line up behind Romania.
The political journalist knows that diplomats loyal to Iohannis are currently discussing the candidacy in Washington, and Turkey, which has the second largest army in the alliance, is ready to support Romania, according to well-informed sources. However, the analysis notes that if Rutte does not withdraw his candidacy, the United States and other major powers would hardly withdraw their support. According to Fati, it cannot be ruled out that the Dutch prime minister is aiming for the position of president of the European Council.
Former Foreign Secretary Valentin Naumescu, a professor at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj, said regarding Iohannis’ self-nomination, the announcement was presumably preceded by discussions with several heads of state and government. “As far as I know Romanian diplomacy, this step does not come as a surprise to the White House and Washington,” the expert added. He believes that the announcement by Klaus Iohannis was made a bit late, but it opens up the possibility for extensive negotiations in the European Union and NATO. According to political scientist Cristian Pîrvulescu, he also recalled Hungary’s rejection of Rutte, and also mentioned the statements of the leaders of the Baltic states and Poland, who would support Eastern European leaders in the European Union and NATO.
Jens Stoltenberg will remain as NATO Secretary General until October 2024, his mandate was extended last summer, and the member states must decide on his successor. NATO diplomats expect the decision to be made in the first quarter of 2024, but no later than before the European Parliament elections scheduled for June. The reason I want to achieve this is that the NATO post will be left out of the carousel of the EU’s best job distribution.
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