UN Secretary-General Race Heats Up as Powers Debate a Secretary or a General

The search for António Guterres’s successor has narrowed to eight nominees, with four Latin American candidates—three women—currently dominating the race. Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan led the first informal Security Council straw poll but fell to seven “encourage” votes in the second round, while Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, retains seven supportive votes but has seen his “discourage” count rise.

The United States, contributing 22 percent of the UN budget, appears to favor a diplomatic secretary, whereas China, now providing about 20 percent, may push for a leader willing to align with its “one-China” stance. Russia is likely to back candidates who have cooperated on the Black Sea grain deal, and the United Kingdom and France hold less sway. Other hopefuls—including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, former Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, and former Senegalese president Macky Sall—face varying levels of opposition, and the field remains fluid as more names could be added before the final selection.