US Lists Demands for Next UN Secretary-General

By | 2026

UNITED NATIONS, January 2 (C-Fam) As the UN gears up for the election of a new Secretary-General, the U.S. government is saying the next UN chief should respect national sovereignty, avoid ideological overreach, and ensure budgetary and administrative efficiency.

Convened by Slovenia on December 15th, the “Leadership for Peace” Security Council meeting featured high-level diplomats and guest speakers reflecting on the type of leader needed to take on the role of Secretary-General, especially as governments deliberate a series of reforms to regain public trust in the UN.

United States Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said the US expects a Secretary-General who will ensure the “UN serves member states rather than have member states beholden to an unaccountable bureaucracy” and “bring the UN back to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”

Over the past years, conservatives have criticized the office of the Secretary-General for overstepping its mandate, either by seeking to centralize undue power in the UN Secretariat, including during emergency situations, or by exercising “moral authority” to impose a contentious vision of human rights by promoting the sexual and reproductive health rights agenda, gender ideology, and comprehensive sexuality education.

Ambassador Locetta said the UN has become “a bloated bureaucracy” and “a forum for divisive ideologies that undermine national sovereignty and start controversy.” The US said it “will continue to reject initiatives that fall outside or attempt to redefine the core purposes of the Charter” and “will prioritize a strong return on our investment.”

The Russian Federation also contended that the UN has failed to live up to its promise due to an ideological imposition by the UN system. Russia emphasized that a “real leader in global affairs” is not someone who “conjures up their own rules and imposes them as universal norms on the international community.”

“While in Africa and other regions of the world, armed conflicts are raging, UN staff are bound to serve the national interests of their Western donors, dispersing their resources and exhausting their efforts,” Russia said.

Argentina spoke about the opportunity for the UN to “restore its mission” by focusing on “effective results” and the key role of the Secretary-General to “catalyze” member states through “active leadership guided by shared principles.”

Governments are now nominating candidates, and so far, the only official candidate is Rafael Mariano Grossi from Argentina. The public can view each nomination on the UN’s dedicated webpage. Other possible candidates include Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica and former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet. Both Grynspan and Bachelet are associated with progressive advocacy and have supported sexual and reproductive health rights, including efforts to expand access to abortion.

Argentina encouraged governments to promote “exceptional leaders based on proven merits” and support the nomination of Argentinian Rafael Mariano Grossi, who serves as the Director General of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency. Argentina highlighted his forty years of diplomatic experience and vision that would make him fit for office.

While the US, Russia, and Argentina focused their remarks on a guarded vision for the next Secretary-General as chief facilitator among member states respecting national sovereignty and working from consensus, other speakers asked for a normative Secretary-General, one who serves as “the world’s moral compass.”

Most candidate nominations are expected to arrive by the end of March 2026. Sometime during the summer, the President of the General Assembly is expected to invite candidates for public hearings where they can present their vision statements and answer questions from member states.

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter