US thanks Romania for its president exiting Nato leadership race

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Romanian foreign minister Luminița-Teodora Odobescu shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding during a ceremony in the Treaty Room at the State Department, in Washington, on Friday (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The Biden administration on Friday thanked Romania for its president withdrawing from the race to lead Nato, saying the move would help ensure the Western military alliance stays properly focused.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered the message to his Romanian counterpart Luminița-Teodora Odobescu. Their meeting on Friday at the State Department came just a day after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis dropped out of the running for Nato’s top job, clearing the way for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.