US urges global race for next UN chief in move likely to annoy Latin America

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United States on Friday said it would consider candidates from around the world to be the next U.N. secretary-general, a move that could irritate Latin American countries who believe it is their turn to provide a leader for the world body. 

The 10th U.N. secretary-general will be elected next year for a five-year term starting on January 1, 2027. The job traditionally rotates among regions and next on the list is Latin America and the Caribbean.

“We believe the process for selection of such an important position should be purely merit-based with as wide a pool of candidates as possible,” said Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea. “With this in mind, the United States invites candidates from all regional groupings.”

The race will formally start when the 15-member Security Council and the president of the 193-member General Assembly send a joint letter by the end of this year soliciting nominations. Candidates are nominated by a U.N. member state.

"We maintain the hope that during this process, the leadership experience and profiles from the developing world will be duly recognized for this vital position, particularly from the Latin American/Caribbean region," Panama's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Ricardo Moscoso told the Security Council on Friday. Panama is serving a two-year term on the council.

Ultimately the permanent five veto-wielding powers of the council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. - have to agree on a candidate. 

'MERIT BEFORE GENDER', SAYS RUSSIA

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told Reuters that it was a tradition, not a rule, that the position of secretary-general be rotated among regions. 

"Latin Americans have all the moral reason to claim this term, but it does not prevent candidates from other regions to step in if they want to," he said. "My criteria is merit."

"I don't mind a woman who will win it on merit, but merit comes first. Merit comes before gender," Nebenzia said.

There is a growing push for the United Nations to choose the first female secretary-general.

"After 80 years, it is long past time for a woman to be at the helm of this organization," said Denmark's U.N. Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen. Denmark is also serving a two-year council term.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration "recognizes it has a real opportunity to shape the U.N.'s future with the choice of the next leader," said International Crisis Group U.N. director Richard Gowan.

"Ironically a lot of U.N. insiders would actually agree that we need a merit-based process, but they will worry about whether the U.S. is looking for a good multilateralist or someone who will focus on downsizing the U.N. further," Gowan said. "But I wouldn't count the Latin Americans out. They will lobby very hard as a bloc to ensure that this is their moment."

While the race has not formally begun, Chile has said it will nominate former president, Michelle Bachelet, and Costa Rica plans to nominate former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan. 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Howard Goller)