Romania’s president withdraws from the race to be Nato chief

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte (Alberto Pezzali/PA)

Romania’s president has withdrawn from the race to become Nato’s next secretary general, leaving outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte all but certain to head the world’s biggest military organisation from October.

The office of Klaus Iohannis said in a statement that Romania’s security council has backed Mr Rutte’s bid.