Romanian president quits NATO chief race, clearing way for Rutte

Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis attends a European Union and Western Balkans leaders' summit, in Brussels, Belgium December 13, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew from the race to lead NATO on Thursday, clearing the way for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the next secretary-general of the transatlantic military alliance.

All other 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 is stepping down this year after a decade in charge.