The race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations is underway, with seven official candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres when his second term ends on December 31, 2026. The next Secretary-General will begin a five-year term on January 1, 2027, subject to approval by the U.N. Security Council and the General Assembly.

Among the leading candidates is Rafael Grossi of Argentina, who has served as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2019. Grossi has gained international prominence for his work on Iran’s nuclear program and efforts to maintain nuclear oversight during the war in Ukraine. Supporters view him as an experienced diplomat, while critics argue he has at times been too flexible in negotiations with Iran.

Another prominent contender is Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, a former vice president and current Secretary-General of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Grynspan has temporarily stepped aside from her role during the campaign, pledging to make the United Nations more efficient while strengthening its focus on peace, development, and human rights.

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is also seeking the position. A former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bachelet has been a frequent critic of Israel and has faced criticism in the United States over her handling of China’s treatment of the Uyghur population. Her candidacy was weakened after Chile’s government withdrew its support.

Other candidates include former Senegalese President Macky Sall, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister and U.N. General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa, Guyana’s U.N. Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and former U.N. Under-Secretary-General Olara Otunnu of Uganda.

The selection process is expected to be highly competitive, with each candidate needing not only broad support from U.N. member states but also the backing—or at least no veto—from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

From Israel’s perspective, Grossi is widely viewed as the most favorable candidate among the declared field due to his relatively firm stance on Iran’s nuclear program and his willingness to publicly challenge Tehran over its lack of cooperation with international inspectors.

By contrast, Bachelet is widely regarded in Israel as the least favorable contender because of her repeated criticism of Israeli policies during her tenure as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The remaining candidates are generally viewed as more neutral, with limited records of either strong support for or opposition to Israel.

Guterres, whose tenure ends at the close of this year, has frequently faced criticism from Israeli officials over his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his repeated public criticism of Israel.

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