Argentina formally backs Rafael Grossi’s candidacy for UN secretary general

Argentina’s government has formalised its support for the candidacy of diplomat Rafael Grossi for the post of United Nations secretary-general. 

Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno announced the government’s support for Grossi on Wednesday in a social media post, describing it as “an honour and a privilege” to present the career diplomat for the post.

After months of diplomatic headcounting, the move places Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, and Argentina at the very centre of a geopolitical contest shaped by global tensions, demands for institutional reform and the long-standing Latin American ambition to lead the multilateral system for the first time.

In his post, Quirno praised Grossi’s “extraordinary work” leading the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one of the two bodies that regulate nuclear non-proliferation.

“Rafael Grossi is recognised internationally for the extraordinary work he has been carrying out as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for six years now, which demonstrates his great capacity for leadership in the face of serious situations that affect international peace and security,” Quirno wrote on X.

Career diplomat

Grossi has led the agency since 2016 and is regarded internationally for his technical expertise and crisis-management skills, particularly in Ukraine and other nuclear flashpoints.

A career diplomat and specialist in non-proliferation since the 1980s, Grossi has become one of the region’s most visible figures in the UN system. His stewardship of the IAEA during one of the most volatile periods since the Cold War – from monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme to inspecting the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant – has earned him strong backing in several European capitals, which view him as a credible and authoritative contender.

A career diplomat trained at the Universidad Católica Argentina, and a specialist in non-proliferation and nuclear policy since the mid-1980s, Grossi has become one of the region’s most visible figures in the UN system.

His stewardship of the IAEA during one of the most volatile periods since the Cold War – from monitoring Iran’s nuclear programme to inspecting the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant – has earned him strong backing in several European capitals, which view him as a credible and authoritative contender.

Several European governments see this record as marking him out as a “credible” candidate, capable of providing the authority the UN needs in a time of deep crisis.

The race to succeed Portugal’s Guterres, whose term runs until 2027, formally opened this week after the General Assembly and Security Council invited member states to submit nominations. Hearings, regional consultations and Security Council negotiations will follow, with any of the five permanent members able to veto a nomination.

Gender and regional diversity are central criteria in this selection. The UN has never had a woman as secretary-general, and diplomatic tradition suggests it is Latin America’s turn, a combination that strengthens the case for female candidates from the region.

Another Argentine in the race

Among them is another Argentine, Virginia Gamba, who until July served as the UN secretary-general’s special representative on violence against children in armed conflict. 

Gamba has launched an independent bid supported by several countries and emphasises her five decades of experience working in conflict zones, from South Africa’s civilian disarmament under Nelson Mandela to investigations into chemical weapons in Syria. She was a joint recipient of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize for her work on nuclear disarmament.

The former UN envoy argues that her military and strategic background is vital at a moment marked by what she calls the largest global arms race since the Cold War and the militarisation of emerging technologies. She also highlights her field experience, saying her expertise is crisis management and conflict prevention.

Other Latin American candidates include Chile’s former president Michelle Bachelet, Mexico’s Alicia Bárcena and Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Christiana Figueres. 

– TIMES