In order to no longer block NATO, the Atlantic Council in the US and Joe Biden promised Klaus Iohannis a consolation prize of great prestige (Distinguished International Leadership Award), and a meeting in the Oval Office.
Jokingly or seriously, this seems to be the reason behind Mr. Iohannis’s American escapade.
Surely, the major themes of such a high-level meeting should have revolved around national interest, especially given the current context.
Mr. Iohannis also tried, in fact, to give this connotation with a totally unspecific transparency regarding the Patriot system that Romania could send to Ukraine.
The Elephant in the Oval Office - Mr. Iohannis's adventure towards NATO leadership
"And this point was reached in our one-on-one discussion, and we decided to continue the dialogue. (...) The discussion was not long, it was relatively short. There is a risk that there may not be consensus, and that is precisely why I think it is very good to have two candidacies, two candidates generally considered acceptable by both because a strong organization needs strong competition, and ultimately, one of the two will be chosen as the future secretary-general," stated Mr. Iohannis.
Given the short nature of the discussion, it is clear that Joe Biden reaffirmed the US position of support for Mark Rutte. However, it is not just the US position. 30 out of 32 NATO states support Mark Rutte.
Mr. Iohannis talks about strong competition. What a story! He is a candidate supported by everyone except himself and Putin's ally in Europe, Viktor Orban.
What dialogue to continue in these conditions? There is only one imaginable: what other position does he get in the EU to unblock NATO?
Another discussion is hard to imagine with a score of 30 to 2. At this score, it is difficult for the statement "one of the two will be chosen as the future secretary-general" not to be a self-irony, albeit involuntary.
Furthermore, Mr. Iohannis announces and assumes the risk of no consensus for a new secretary-general. But he is the only reason why there won't be, as Viktor Orban is an artist at retreating for the right price.
So, Mr. Iohannis assumes the risk that due to his ambitions, the alliance will send a message completely contrary to its fundamental principles: unity and solidarity, as highlighted by major international publications such as FAZ or Financial Times.
If two leaders can block in this way, for strictly personal reasons, the overwhelming choice desired by everyone else, why not consider that the same could happen with Article 5, so crucial for us?
This is not a competition. This is a blocking game, with a strong scent of blackmail, of a man who cannot conceive his future without a high-ranking position with protocol and luxury to match, aided by another man who always does everything in his power to destabilize Western constructions that displease Russia.
Why is Mr. Iohannis treated with such delicacy?
But Mr. Iohannis knows he cannot receive the harsh reply he deserves. As evidence, he is summoned to the US, compensated with an important award, granted so far to truly prominent personalities far beyond the provincial stature of his lordship, he is called to the Oval Office, not exactly a state visit, but nonetheless, to the Oval Office.
An occasion where Joe Biden makes authentic bows to the Romanian people, rightfully and without any merit of Mr. Iohannis, for his conduct at the beginning of the Ukraine war.
Why is Mr. Iohannis treated with such delicacy?
The context is very difficult, Romania's position is essential, NATO and the US cannot afford the risk of antagonizing, there are still months left in Mr. Iohannis's mandate and he shows signs of fighting to establish his successor. So, it is preferable to grant him an amicable way out, a tension-free exit from the adventure of this candidacy.
However, it is not clear if Mr. Iohannis will settle for this chance or will force the "dialogue" until he receives the high-ranking position with protocol. I have every reason to believe he will.
Yet, I also have reason to believe that, at some point, after repeated public statements, after messages from major foreign publications, after the favor of this award certainly far above Mr. Iohannis's merits, if Goe remains a repeater, the avoided harsh reply will still come.