One day before President Iohannis was to meet his new friend Viktor Orban to further discuss the NATO leadership, the U.S. sent a clear and even somewhat ironic message to the presidential candidate.
„I believe you are aware that the U.S. position is that we fully support Mark Rutte as the future Secretary-General, but we have the utmost respect for our friend, President Iohannis, and we appreciate that he has entered the competition and wish him all the best, while we continue to discuss this issue (the selection of the future Secretary-General – editor’s note) within the Alliance,” stated U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith.
"Wish him all the best"? It seems like a touch of irony, like a message of "goodbye and good luck in life."
Pro-Putin Illustration
On the same day, President Iohannis also lost hope of receiving support from the Baltic region, as Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas, who was also at one point a contender for the NATO leadership, announced her country's support for Mark Rutte.
The U.S. Ambassador suggests that a decision could be made in the next two weeks. So, consensus may not be far off. According to the Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Rutte is supported by 28 of the NATO countries and only needs to convince 4 more. Certainly, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and possibly Turkey.
An impressive company, no doubt! But even these 4 are not firmly on Klaus Iohannis' side. Diplomatic sources suggest that President Erdogan, a friend of Victor Ponta, does not have much chemistry with Klaus Iohannis, not to mention that he can't stand him.
In fact, Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not reject Mark Rutte, but he told him over the phone that Ankara will support a candidate for the NATO leadership based on its expectations and needs. Similar to the conditions set for Sweden's acceptance into NATO, for which Turkey obtained the desired price.
And not even Orban, Putin's friend, is sure to stand by Klaus Iohannis. The Hungarian Prime Minister has changed his position for a substantial price.
Thus, the prediction of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) seems to come true: Iohannis has no chance, but he will delay Rutte's election, further dividing NATO at a time when the alliance cannot afford it.
What Was Behind It?
When Klaus Iohannis publicly announced his candidacy, an unprecedented move in NATO's history, many wondered what guarantees he had behind the announcement. Few could imagine that someone would jump headfirst without having the groundwork prepared and serious support behind them.
It is becoming increasingly clear that he had nothing but the desperation not to be left without a position. And he may have thought that by twisting the arms of allies, he would still achieve something, if not NATO, then at least a European position.
NATO seems to be slipping away, and the signals for a European position are not very bright either.
The Bill to Pay
It wouldn't be a problem if Mr. Iohannis were to plead for a European position on a personal level. But his strategy, to enhance his claims, was to turn a personal struggle into a crusade of Romania itself, as if not Mr. Iohannis, as an individual, was to take up the position of NATO Secretary-General, but somehow Romania was supposed to hold the NATO presidency, which is completely false.
Moreover, with Romania behind him, Mr. Iohannis, for personal interest, goes against the U.S. and the other NATO partners who have sent soldiers to defend us. He aligns himself with Putin's friend and, while in the country we are tearing our clothes for stability, in the alliance, he generates division, according to FAZ, thus instability. Exactly what Vladimir Putin would want most.
If there will be a price to pay for this irresponsibility, it matters very little how and what Klaus Iohannis will pay. It matters if there will be a price to pay for Romania, which Klaus Iohannis used without scruples.