Mircea Geoană Resigns as NATO Deputy Chief, Prepares for Presidential Run

“Mircea has served NATO for nearly five years. His focus on technology and emerging security challenges has been critical to driving innovation in the Alliance. He is a true transatlanticist and his work with partners has greatly benefitted NATO. I wish him all the best for the future,” said Stoltenberg, according to a NATO press release.

Boris Ruge, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy (PASP), will serve as Acting Deputy Secretary General until a successor is appointed.

Geoană, who is preparing to run again for the Presidency, posted an announcement on Facebook in which he says that the NATO mandate was the honor of his life, without making any reference to candidacy.

“Being in the leadership of NATO has been the honor of my life. I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his trust and friendship. Together, in the last 5 years, we have been through many difficult times, but we have also shared countless achievements with our outstanding team. As I move into a new chapter, I look back with pride on my memorable time in the service of the most important Alliance in history.
Mircea Geoană is the first Romanian to fill this position and the first Deputy Secretary General from a country that joined the Alliance after the end of the Cold War,” reads his Facebook post.