Romania’s president announces his bid to become the NATO military alliance’s next leader

By STEPHEN McGRATH and ANDREEA ALEXANDRU
Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s president says he will enter the race to become the next leader of the 32-nation NATO military alliance, emphasizing his country’s proximity to Ukraine and the threat from Russia. President Klaus Iohannis wants to succeed Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who has been NATO’s top civilian official since 2014 and has made clear he will not be staying. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, borders Ukraine and has played an increasingly prominent role in the alliance throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion. NATO officials and envoys want the nomination for Stoltenberg’s successor wrapped up by the end of April.