Antonio Guterres, who has been the Secretary-General of the United Nations for nearly a decade, is now on the verge of the end of his term. In his last speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he addressed topics such as climate change, a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, reducing tensions and dialogue in the Middle East, and regulations regarding artificial intelligence.
Guterres bids farewell to diplomats and world leaders
At the end of his speech, Guterres bid farewell to a group of diplomats and world leaders with whom he has collaborated. He said, "On January 1, when I will no longer be Secretary-General, rest assured that wherever I am, whatever I do, I will continue to support the belief that peace is possible." He also emphasized that he would remain committed to the values of the United Nations Charter and would never give up.
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The next Secretary-General of the United Nations will be appointed at a critical time for global diplomacy. Research shows that last year saw the highest number of active global conflicts since World War II, and the highest number of casualties reported since the Rwandan genocide. Tensions are rising in other parts of the world, and climate change is causing more damage. Additionally, the development of artificial intelligence has raised further concerns, and the United Nations itself is facing an increasing financial crisis.
Candidates for the UN Secretary-General
Currently, seven candidates are competing to lead the United Nations. The initial letter announcing this process expressed regret that no woman has ever held this position and urged member states to give serious consideration to nominating women.
Member states introduce their candidates to the United Nations by submitting requests that include a personal statement outlining their vision for the position, a resume, and disclosure of campaign funding sources. The General Assembly then holds "interactive dialogues" where candidates express their hopes for the position and the United Nations. These televised sessions will continue until candidates are introduced to the United Nations.
The final selection of the Secretary-General depends on the decision of the 15-member United Nations Security Council, which proposes a candidate to the General Assembly. The General Assembly then appoints that individual to the position. The Security Council conducts "informal polls" to select candidates, where council members choose one of three options for each candidate: "encourage," "not encourage," or "no opinion given." This anonymous process is used to assess candidates' ability to secure the nine votes needed for an official Security Council proposal.
In total, nine candidates have been nominated for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, of which two have withdrawn, leaving seven currently competing to succeed Guterres.
Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett has been the permanent representative of Guyana to the United Nations since 2020 and previously served as her country's foreign minister and senior officials at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Her statement emphasizes a review of the fundamental principles of the United Nations and a "more agile and effective United Nations."
Rebeca Grynspan, who previously served as the Vice President of Costa Rica and is currently the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, has also been nominated. She has outlined three principles that define her mission as Secretary-General: "Make the United Nations more useful, agile, and accountable."
Ivonne A-Baki, a seasoned Ecuadorian diplomat and candidate from the left, has served twice as her country's ambassador to the United States. She emphasized her role in the peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru in 1998 and her statement focuses on "renewal" rather than "reform."
