UAE set to nominate Lana Nusseibeh to succeed Guterres as UN secretary-general, sources tell 'Post'

Diplomatic sources in New York believe the United Arab Emirates is likely to nominate Lana Nusseibeh to become the next United Nations secretary-general, according to The Jerusalem Post. Nusseibeh, an Emirati diplomat who serves as the assistant minister for political affairs in the UAE Foreign Ministry, has previously held the position of the UAE permanent representative to the UN for over a decade.

Additionally, she served as the council president on the UN Security Council from 2022 to 2023. The selection process will determine who will replace the current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, who will finish his second five-year term on December 31.

Nusseibeh's potential nomination comes amid months of intense diplomatic maneuvering as regional blocs compete to secure the UN's top post. Currently, six candidates are actively vying for the position, with Nusseibeh expected to be the seventh. So far, Rebeca Grynspan, the current head of the UN Trade and Development body, has led in informal straw polls for the next UN secretary-general.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi of Argentina is another prominent contender, advocating for a more practical, streamlined, and results-oriented UN, garnering significant support in informal polls. Carolyn Rorigues-Brikett, Guyana's permanent representative to the UN, is also a serious contender, bringing extensive experience in foreign affairs, climate advocacy, sustainable development, and diplomacy for developing states.

Traditionally, the UN selects the secretary-general based on regional rotation, with Latin America's turn in the position. Currently, five of the six candidates are from Latin America or the Caribbean. However, Nusseibeh's appointment would deviate from this established norm, though she is not disqualified from the position.