Argentina Backs Rafael Grossi for UN Secretary-General
BUENOS AIRES, november 27th – Argentina has formally nominated Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to contend for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, with a term beginning in 2027.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry cited Grossi’s proven capacity for fostering diplomatic solutions during times of international tension and crisis as a key reason for their support. They believe his experience uniquely positions him to lead the UN through complex global challenges.
The nomination follows a joint declaration earlier this week from the UN Security Council and General Assembly initiating the process for selecting the next Secretary-General. Member states are now invited to submit candidates, with each nation limited to a single nomination. Prospective candidates will be required to outline their vision for the UN’s future, disclose their financial interests, and, if currently employed by a UN agency, temporarily relinquish their duties to ensure impartiality.
The election is anticipated to occur in late July 2026, as the current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, concludes his term on December 31, 2026.Grossi joins Rebeca Grynspan, head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Growth (UNCTAD), in declaring their candidacy.
The UN Secretary-General is chosen through a two-stage process: frist by the Security Council, and then with final approval from the General assembly. The role carries a five-year term, renewable once, though historically, no Secretary-General has served for more than ten years. A longstanding convention dictates that the Secretary-General should not be a national of any of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
