Key facts
- The next UN chief will lead the organization for at least five years, with two of those years potentially during a Trump administration.
- Donald Trump has reportedly floated FIFA chief Gianni Infantino for the UN secretary-general position.
- The U.S. is the UN's largest funder and has reduced its contributions, leading to a liquidity crisis.
- The UN has eliminated thousands of jobs and is merging agencies to deal with cost-cutting measures.
- The UN Security Council, including Russia and China, has veto power over the selection of the secretary-general.
- Candidates for UN secretary-general include Macky Sall of Senegal and former diplomats from Uganda and Ecuador.
The selection process for the next United Nations Secretary-General is facing significant uncertainty, with candidates needing to navigate the demands of the U.S. and President Donald Trump. Current Secretary-General António Guterres' second and final five-year term concludes at the end of this year. The U.S., as the UN's largest financial contributor, has been instrumental in pushing for reforms and cost-cutting measures, including slashing its own contributions, which has led to thousands of job eliminations and agency mergers within the organization.
Donald Trump has made his interest in the race known, reportedly floating FIFA chief Gianni Infantino for the role, signaling his expectation for a leader who aligns with U.S. interests. U.S. officials, including Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, have stated that candidates must publicly commit to required changes. The U.S. has already used its financial leverage to force restructuring, and the threat of further action looms.
Adding to the complexity, the UN Security Council, which includes permanent members with veto power like Russia and China, must recommend a candidate. Russia has already expressed skepticism about potential UN collapse scenarios. Experts suggest the ideal candidate would need to satisfy Trump's demands for reform without alienating other major powers. The current pool of candidates, including former President Macky Sall of Senegal and diplomats from Uganda and Ecuador, may not fully meet these criteria. Some observers note that calls for UN reform are not new, with a former UN staffer expressing immunity to new reform proposals, emphasizing the organization's core mission of preventing war.