Race to replace Guterres: New candidate joins contest for UN chief

The race for the position of UN secretary-general continues as new candidate Ivonne Baki of Ecuador joins the competition. The United Nations Security Council will vote again on Friday in the selection process. The focus is on how the new entrant will impact the balance of power and whether the leading candidates can narrow the gap.

Baki, a veteran diplomat with over four decades of experience, was backed by the Kingdom of Tonga to submit her candidacy. It's an unusual move as Ecuador, her own country, is not officially supporting her. Baki's background includes serving as Ecuador's ambassador to the United States, France, Qatar, and several Middle Eastern countries.

She played a crucial role in the Ecuador-Peru peace agreement and led international initiatives on environmental issues, protecting the Amazon and Galápagos Islands, and promoting interregional cooperation.

Baki envisions herself as a candidate who can bridge the Global North and Global South, restoring trust in the UN system. In her vision statement, she shares her personal story from the Lebanese Civil War, where she vowed to dedicate her life to advancing peace after seeking shelter with her family in a Beirut bunker during bombardment.

Her main proposal is a major reform of the Security Council, including the abolition of the veto power of its permanent members. Baki also calls for an organization free from political bloc influence, focused on preventing wars, restoring member states' trust, improving efficiency, and ensuring better use of the organization's budget.

As the competition continues, the race remains centered on three prominent candidates: Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi. Grynspan, currently the secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, is viewed as a pragmatic and moderate candidate with a focus on restoring trust in the multilateral system and advancing management reforms.

Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's ambassador to the UN, is seen as a surprise contender who emphasizes strengthening multilateralism, expanding the secretary-general's role in conflict resolution, and conducting UN reforms. Lastly, Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is considered a significant candidate with U.S. support. However, his campaign faces criticism for his ongoing role at the IAEA.