The United Nations officially opened the process to choose its next secretary-general on Tuesday, inviting member states to submit nominations for the organization’s top post ahead of the transition on January 1, 2027.
The process is expected to unfold over several months, likely involving multiple rounds of deliberations within the 15-member Security Council.
Once the Council agrees on a candidate, the nomination will be forwarded to the 193-member General Assembly for a final vote on the next chief for a five-year tenure.
António Guterres, the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, assumed office in January 2017 to lead the highest global diplomatic forum as its chief administrator. His two five-year terms will conclude on December 31, 2026.
A joint letter marking the formal start of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General. @UN_PGA calls for countries to strongly consider nominating women candidates while stressing the importance of regional diversity. pic.twitter.com/GRuluAYWWp
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) November 25, 2025
The announcement about rolling out the selection process came in a joint letter from Sierra Leone’s UN Ambassador and current Security Council President, Michael Imran Kanu, and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.
“Our choice will send a powerful message about who we are as a United Nations and whether we truly serve all the people of the world,” Ms. Baerbock told reporters, underscoring the significance of the upcoming selection.
In their letter, Kanu and Baerbock emphasized the gravity of the role, calling the secretary-generalship “one of great importance,” requiring “the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity” and unwavering commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.
Pressure has been growing among member states for the UN to appoint its first woman to the position.
The letter acknowledges “with regret that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General” and urges states “to strongly consider nominating women.”
The race is on for the next UN Secretary General. Today a joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the UN Security Council was transmitted and published, thus inviting interested parties to formally submit their nominations for the position of… pic.twitter.com/XZKIdcJnR4
— Gabriel Elizondo (@elizondogabriel) November 25, 2025
Several figures have already stepped forward with plans to seek the role.
They include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; Rafael Grossi, the Argentinian director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; and Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, currently head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Public interviews, a transparency measure first introduced during the 2016 selection that led to Guterres’s first term, may again be part of the process.
“I’m gonna run for Secretary-General of the UN”
Huge round of applause for former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet at the Clinton Global Initiative as she closes a panel on “Invest in women, invest in democracy” saying Chile is nominating her for the United Nations top job. pic.twitter.com/syJBPVo41T
— Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) September 25, 2025
To be considered, candidates must be nominated by a member state or group of states, and are required to submit a vision statement as well as disclosure of funding sources.
While there is a tradition of rotating the secretary-generalship among regional groups—which would point to Latin America as the next in line—the practice has not always been strictly observed.
The letter stresses “the importance of regional diversity” without designating a preferred region.
The Security Council is expected to begin formal deliberations by the end of July. As in previous selections, the five permanent Council members—the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France—hold significant sway, as each possesses veto power over the final choice.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
