The veto could be the weapon of elimination in the election of the next UN chief

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The Security Council armed with veto powers. Credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 17, 2026 (IPS) – As the campaign for the next Secretary-General gains momentum – at a relatively slow pace – there is widespread speculation that any candidate running for UN chief will have to abide by the dictates of a politically hostile White House or face a veto in the Security Council.

So far, there are only two declared candidates: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi of Argentina, and more candidates are expected to join the race.

The winning candidate, who will take office in January 2027, will be elected by the 15-member Security Council and subsequently ratified by the 193-member General Assembly (UNGA).

UNGA President Annalena Baerbock said the selection process is already underway and interactive dialogues with the candidates are scheduled for the week of April 20, where they will present their “vision statements.”

Meanwhile, the United States has publicly declared its opposition to some of the core goals of the UN socioeconomic agenda, including gender empowerment and policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), while dismissing climate change as “a hoax” and a “big scam.”
The Trump administration has also downplayed human rights and compliance with international law, two concepts embedded in the UN system.

In an interview with the New York Times last January, President Trump said he does not “need international law” to guide his actions, arguing that only his own “morality” and “mind” will limit his global powers.

So what would be the fate of any candidate, man or woman, who defends these UN goals? Will there be a battle of vetoes, as occurred in a past era?

Richard Gowan, program director of Global Affairs and Institutions at the International Crisis Group (ICG), who oversees the ICG’s work on geopolitics, global conflict trends and multilateralism, told IPS that no one knows how this race will end.

Obviously, UN observers will follow the initial candidates’ vision statements and their public appearances over the coming months, he noted.

“But diplomats in New York have a suspicion that veto powers in the Security Council may suddenly announce their support for a new candidate at the last minute to bypass the entire public process. There is a strong sense that the United States, China and Russia do not want to be locked in by the General Assembly.”

There is also a scenario, he said, in which the veto powers cannot agree on a candidate and the Council ends up dragging out discussions on a candidate until December.

“UN officials have even made some contingency plans for what will happen if there is no agreed-upon candidate by January 1, 2027. It is possible that the Security Council will ask Guterres to wait a few months, although I don’t think either diplomats or Guterres want that outcome.”

There are definitely some senior U.N. officials and ambassadors in New York who are wondering whether the Council might convene them at the last minute, Gowan said.

Thomas G. Weiss, presidential professor emeritus of political science and director emeritus of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, told IPS that it is difficult to imagine anyone running for UN Secretary General who would not run into Washington’s veto on a candidacy that necessarily addresses the values of cooperation (multilateralism of any form), in addition to honestly discussing issues such as climate, gender (male or female), nuclear proliferation, Palestine and sovereignty, all “hoaxes” or “scams” according to DJT (President Trump) and his board.

He said both the 1996 and 1981 elections provide “models.”

“The Chinese vetoes are probably the most relevant precedent for Washington to go to the mat indefinitely until an ‘acceptable’ candidate emerges. Let’s hope that person is as competent as the 1996 compromise, Kofi Annan,” he declared.

In 1981, Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania had the backing of the Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement and China. But his bid was blocked by a US veto.

In 1996, the United States vetoed a second five-year term for Egypt’s Boutros Boutros-Ghali, even though he received the support of 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council.

In 1981, China issued a record 16 vetoes against Kurt Waldheim to prevent a third term, leading to his withdrawal and the selection of Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.

Meanwhile, there has been an intense campaign to appoint a female UN chief, the first in the UN’s 81-year history. But the United States has remained silent on the widely supported proposal.

The last nine general secretaries, all men, include:

António Guterres (Portugal), who took office in January 2017;
Ban Ki-moon (Republic of Korea), from January 2007 to December 2016;
Kofi A. Annan (Ghana), January 1997 to December 2006;
Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt), January 1992 to December 1996;
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru), January 1982 to December 1991;
Kurt Waldheim (Austria), January 1972 to December 1981;
U Thant (Burma, now Myanmar), who served from November 1961, when he was appointed acting Secretary General (he was formally appointed Secretary General in November 1962), until December 1971;
Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden), from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Africa in September 1961; and
Trygve Lie (Norway), who held the position from February 1946 until his resignation in November 1952.

As for the United States, Gowan said, “I don’t think Washington has chosen a candidate yet. But the Trump administration is definitely aware that it has the power to reshape the political culture of the organization if it finds someone who aligns with its views.”

He said U.S. diplomats have told other veto powers that they will delay several reform proposals and cuts until they have their own nominee as Secretary General.

Many UN members assume that the United States will not accept a female Secretary-General, but I think Washington could support a woman if she were a strong social conservative and willing to make big cuts to the UN system, she argued.

“However, right now there is no obvious candidate who meets those criteria. I think some candidates who could never align with the United States on issues like development and diversity are already exiting the race.”

Meanwhile, there’s a reason Mia Mottley has gone from being the supposed front-runner to focusing on domestic politics.

“I also think that all the candidates recognize that they are going to have to talk a lot more about how they will advance the UN’s work on peace and security, which is a priority not only for the United States but for many member states.”

“That said, a senior UN diplomat recently told me that they cannot see countries in the Global South accepting another Western candidate after Guterres, regardless of gender. Non-Western members of the Security Council could create a blocking minority in the Security Council to keep out candidates from US allies,” Gowan stated.

IPS UN Office Report