Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced his candidacy for NATO Secretary General, AFP reports.
"I have decided to participate in the race for the post of NATO secretary-general," Iohannis told reporters, adding that "I assume this candidacy on behalf of Romania with full responsibility."
President Klaus Iohannis's nomination will complicate efforts by some allies to appoint outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as the next head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Backed by the United States, the United Kingdom and other major countries, Rutte has for months been considered the favorite to lead the 31-member alliance after Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's term ended in October.
But some members on the alliance's eastern flank have refused to give the green light as they push for greater representation from the Eastern European region in senior positions in the organisation. The alliance's most recent leaders are from the Nordic countries or the Netherlands.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kalas and Latvian Foreign Minister Krisiannis Karins also expressed interest in the position, but their countries ultimately refrained from nominating them as candidates. Turkey has made it clear that it would like assurances from Rutte, including that he would not only consider European Union members. /BGNES
