The United States said it would consider the widest possible range of candidates for the new UN secretary-general, although this post is traditionally held on a rotational basis from different regions, with Latin America and the Caribbean now taking the turn, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The tenth UN secretary-general will be elected next year and will officially take office in January 2027.
"We believe that the selection process for such an important position should be based entirely on merit and include the widest possible range of candidates," said Dorothy Shea, the US deputy permanent representative to the UN. "With this in mind, the United States is inviting candidates from all regional groups," Shea added at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
By the end of the year, the 15-member Security Council and the president of the 193-member General Assembly are expected to send a joint letter requesting nominations. This will officially launch the race for a new UN secretary-general.
"We continue to hope that during this process, the leadership experience and qualifications of candidates from developing countries, particularly from the Latin American and Caribbean region, will be recognized as befitting this important position," said Panama's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Ricardo Moscoso, at a meeting of the Security Council on Friday. Panama is one of 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council elected for a two-year term.
Ultimately, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council who have veto power - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - must reach unanimity in choosing a new secretary-general.