Less than three months remain before the current Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, leaves office, yet the selection of the new Secretary-General has encountered resistance from the United States.
According to a report by the American "Politico News Network" on October 9, two people familiar with internal discussions within the U.S. government revealed that the Trump administration is not satisfied with all seven candidates competing for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. They believe that none of these candidates fully understand President Donald Trump's worldview, and they are also unable to meet Trump's demands for radical reforms in the United Nations.
Among those running for office, none are reform-minded as Americans hope for. Some even seem more conservative and resistant to change. Said a Trump administration official.
Another US State Department official stated: “Those who have long served within the system may not be suitable for leadership of the United Nations. We want to find someone who can break the status quo.”
The current tenure of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will end on December 31, 2026. Currently, there are seven candidates competing for the position of new Secretary-General of the United Nations, most of whom are professional diplomats. Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice-President of Costa Rica, has been leading in all the informal votes so far.
The selection of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations is determined by the United Nations Security Council, which consists of 15 member states. The Security Council is responsible for submitting recommendations for candidates to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Like other permanent members of the Security Council, the United States has the right to veto any candidate for the position of Secretary-General.
A Republican congressional aide said that Republicans in Washington oppose Greenspan being appointed as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The aide specifically pointed out that Greenspan’s stance on the Israeli issue is too strong, while his attitude towards issues related to China is too lenient.
"If they ultimately choose someone like Greene Span, do you think it's possible to get any Republican to support a regular budget allocation to the United Nations? Good luck." said that person.
This congressional aide also said that the Republican Congressional caucus hopes for a “dark horse” candidate who was not considered promising before. It would be best if this candidate is someone who is “plain and unremarkable” and who does not “politicize everything.”
Reports indicate that it is not common for the United States to intervene so strongly in the selection of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The strong opposition from the Trump administration to many candidates highlights the White House's attempt to increase its influence over the United Nations.
Former Assistant Secretary of State to the United States, Retired Diplomat Geoffrey Pyatt stated: "This indicates that the Trump administration has realized that who is appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations is actually very important. Therefore, they hope to find someone whose worldview and interests align more closely with their own position."
It is worth mentioning that earlier this year, Trump suggested that FIFA president Inzaghi might be a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, although he did not formally nominate him. Inzaghi is currently seeking a second term as FIFA president.
US State Department officials told Politico News that Gianni Infantino could be a good candidate. The officials also did not rule out the possibility of Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov becoming a candidate. Mladenov currently serves as the head of the Peace Commission established by Trump.
Reports indicate that other candidates who could join the competition at the last moment include Rana Nusseibeh, former Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations and current Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs. Former Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu is also considering running for the election.
John Bolton, who served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations during the Bush administration and as the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs during Trump’s first term in office, believes that the Trump administration may not mind having the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations vacant for some time.
However, UN spokesman Stefanie Dijak said that he expects the selection process to be completed by the end of the year as planned. “We are fully confident that all Member States will elect a new Secretary-General in time by December 31,” said Dijak.
