Lana Nusseibeh joins UN Secretary-General race

Lana Nusseibeh Joins the Race as the UN Security Council Stalls

“Regrettably, I have not yet seen substantive progress on this front,” UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh told 21st Century Business Herald in an exclusive written interview regarding Middle East diplomatic efforts. Nusseibeh entered the race for United Nations Secretary-General on October 21, joining a stagnant selection process where eight candidates are currently competing to succeed António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026.

Security Council Straw Polls Fail to Reach Consensus

The United Nations Security Council has completed six rounds of informal straw polls without a single candidate reaching the required recommendation threshold, mired in geopolitical division and a lack of consensus among the five permanent members. Costa Rican candidate Rebeca Grynspan previously held a lead in early voting rounds. Meanwhile, Senegal’s former President Macky Sall withdrew his candidacy to help the Security Council form a consensus, pointing to a regional leaning toward Latin American and Caribbean candidates alongside rising attention on female contenders. Nusseibeh, who served as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 2013 to 2024 and two-time Security Council President during her country’s elected term, argued in her interview with 21st Century Business Herald that mutual trust across the Middle East has collapsed and that the UN has failed to play a sufficiently prominent role in de-escalating the crisis.

Nusseibeh Proposes Structural Modernization for UN Agencies

Beyond regional conflict, Nusseibeh outlined a platform focused on structural modernization, resource reallocation, and executive responsiveness across UN agencies. According to her statements given to 21st Century Business Herald, her agenda prioritizes sharpening organizational focus, reducing institutional duplication, and empowering front-line personnel to deliver measurable results in peace, security, development, and human rights. She emphasized that the global body requires a cultural and mindset transformation to rebuild international confidence in its mandate. The selection process proceeds behind closed doors through December, where candidates must secure at least nine encouraging votes and avoid a veto from any permanent member before the Security Council submits a single recommendation to the General Assembly for formal appointment.