UNITED NATIONS, February 17 (IPS) – The United Nations Security Council, empowered by veto rights held by its five permanent members, looms large over the nascent campaign to select the next Secretary-General, with observers suggesting any potential candidate will face intense political scrutiny from Washington.
As of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, two candidates have formally announced their bids: Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, and Rafael Grossi, former Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from Argentina. More candidates are anticipated to enter the race, with the winning candidate slated to assume office in January 2027, following election by the 15-member Security Council and subsequent ratification by the 193-member General Assembly.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, confirmed the selection process is underway, with interactive dialogues with candidates scheduled for the week of April 20, 2026, where they will present their “vision statements.” However, the current political climate, particularly the stated positions of the United States, casts a shadow over the proceedings.
The administration of President Trump has publicly signaled opposition to core tenets of the UN’s socio-economic agenda, including gender empowerment initiatives and policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The administration has dismissed climate change as unsubstantiated and downplayed the importance of adherence to international laws and human rights—principles central to the UN system. In a January interview with the Fresh York Times, President Trump asserted he does not “need international law” to guide his actions, stating his own “morality” and “mind” would be the sole constraints on his global powers.
This stance raises questions about the fate of any candidate advocating for these established UN goals. Richard Gowan, Program Director, Global Issues and Institutions, at the International Crisis Group (ICG), noted the uncertainty surrounding the race. “Nobody knows how this race will end,” Gowan told IPS. “Diplomats in New York have a suspicion that the veto powers in the Security Council may suddenly announce support for a new candidate at the last minute to circumvent the entire public process. There is a strong sense that the U.S., China and Russia don’t want to be boxed in by the General Assembly.”
Gowan too highlighted a potential scenario where the veto powers fail to reach consensus, leading to prolonged discussions extending into December 2026. “UN officials have even done some contingency planning for what happens if there is not an agreed candidate on 1 January 2027. The Security Council might ask Guterres to hang on for a few months, although I don’t think either diplomats or Guterres want that outcome.”
The possibility of a veto mirroring past instances looms large. In 1981, Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania, backed by the Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement, and China, was blocked by a U.S. Veto. Similarly, in 1996, a second five-year term for Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt was vetoed by the United States, despite support from 14 of the 15 Security Council members. China also exercised its veto power extensively in 1981, casting a record 16 vetoes against Kurt Waldheim to prevent his third term, ultimately leading to his withdrawal and the selection of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.
Alongside the geopolitical maneuvering, a campaign for the first female UN chief has gained momentum, spanning 81 years of the organization’s history. The U.S. Position on this proposal remains undisclosed. The nine previous Secretaries-General have all been men: António Guterres (Portugal), Ban Ki-moon (Republic of Korea), Kofi A. Annan (Ghana), Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt), Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru), Kurt Waldheim (Austria), U Thant (Burma, now Myanmar), Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden), and Trygve Lie (Norway).
Gowan suggested the U.S. Has not yet settled on a candidate but is aware of its leverage to reshape the UN’s political culture. “U.S. Diplomats have told other veto powers that they will hold back on various reform proposals and cuts until they have their own candidate as Secretary-General,” he said. He further speculated that Washington might support a female candidate if she aligned with socially conservative views and advocated for substantial cuts to the UN system, though no obvious candidate currently meets those criteria.
Gowan also noted a growing sentiment among Global South countries against another Western candidate following António Guterres’s tenure. “The non-Western members of the Security Council could create a blocking minority in the Security Council to keep candidates from U.S. Allies out,” he stated.
As of February 17, 2026, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged renewed commitment to completing decolonization, noting that 17 territories remain under colonial rule. He also called for sweeping reforms of global institutions, stating the absence of permanent African seats on the Security Council is “indefensible.”