Archive · 23 Sep 2026
UN Successor Race Intensifies Amid Wars and Financial Crisis
The United Nations is looking for a new leader because Antonio Guterres will leave at the end of 2026.
The Security Council is discussing possible candidates.
Rebeca Grynspan received enough positive votes in the latest informal poll, but she also received several negative votes.
The Council must agree on one candidate before the General Assembly can appoint the secretary-general.
The new leader will face wars and disagreements among countries.
The UN is also having trouble collecting money that countries promised to pay.
The United States and China owed most of the money that was unpaid as of April 30.
Both countries later made large payments, but late payments still make it difficult for the UN to plan its work.
The next leader will need to manage both political divisions and a serious financial problem.
Antonio Guterres is due to leave the UN secretary-general post at the end of December 2026 after a decade in office.
The Security Council has held three informal straw polls, with Rebeca Grynspan receiving nine encourage votes but five discourage votes in the latest round.
A candidate needs at least nine of the Council’s 15 votes and must avoid a veto from China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
The UN ended 2025 with $1.57 billion in unpaid regular-budget assessments, while unpaid peacekeeping assessments reached $3.54 billion by April 30.
The United States and China accounted for about 88% of $6.34 billion in outstanding regular-budget and peacekeeping assessments as of April 30.
- Who
- The United Nations, its Security Council, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and candidates including Rebeca Grynspan are central to the succession process.
- What
- The United Nations is choosing Guterres’s successor while confronting severe unpaid assessments and strained finances.
- When
- The selection process formally began in November 2025; Guterres is due to step down at the end of December 2026, and the latest straw poll occurred on September 18.
- Where
- The process is centered on the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly in New York.
- Why
- A successor is needed because Guterres’s term is ending, and the incoming leader will inherit wars, geopolitical divisions, and major funding shortfalls.
UN Financial Stability Concerns
U.S. Spending Retrenchment
Timing of payments
UN Financial Stability Concerns
The UN says predictable payments are essential for managing cash outflows, planning spending, and safely carrying out its programmes and operations.
U.S. Spending Retrenchment
U.S. officials under President Donald Trump have spoken of placing the UN on a “starvation diet,” while Washington delayed mandatory payments and reduced voluntary funding to several UN agencies.
Recent contributions
UN Financial Stability Concerns
The UN continues to face major arrears even after recent payments, because late payments limit its ability to fund programmes and operations when needed.
U.S. Spending Retrenchment
The United States paid $725 million toward the regular budget and $102 million for peacekeeping on September 15, while China paid its full annual regular-budget assessment of $641.4 million on September 1.
- Current secretary-general
- Antonio Guterres, who is due to leave office at the end of December 2026
- Latest leading candidate
- Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica received nine encourage votes and five discourage votes in the September 18 straw poll
- Council requirement
- A candidate needs at least nine of 15 Security Council votes and no veto from a permanent member
- Permanent members
- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
- Regular-budget arrears
- The UN ended 2025 with $1.57 billion in unpaid regular-budget assessments
- Peacekeeping arrears
- Unpaid peacekeeping assessments reached $3.54 billion by April 30
- Largest outstanding contributors
- The United States and China together represented about 88% of $6.34 billion outstanding across both categories as of April 30