{
  "id": 19114030,
  "title": "How the successor of Antonio Guterres can put peace back on the UN menu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/how-the-successor-of-antonio-guterres-can-put-peace-back-on-the-un-19114030",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2026/11/09/un-secretary-general-security-council-peace-antonio-guterres/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The quest to become the new United Nations secretary general has transformed from a smooth process to a challenging one. Despite repeated attempts at straw polls in the Security Council, no candidate has yet won the backing of the five permanent members. Consequently, new names are emerging, such as the UAE's Lana Nusseibeh. The individual chosen to succeed Antonio Guterres in December will undoubtedly be celebrated for their selection, as consensus in the council is rare. However, as the role's power depends on the concessions granted by strong states, this position is far from simple. The UN's founding mission to end wars is particularly pertinent, given that 65 state-based conflicts currently exist, marking the highest number since the UN's inception 80 years ago. This includes eight wars between states, a stark doubling from the previous year, and an unprecedented level of civilian casualties, with nearly 250,000 deaths from organized violence. Additionally, international law's protective mechanisms are being increasingly disregarded, exacerbating brutalities. Despite this, the incoming secretary general will undoubtedly be idealistic and energetic. Yet, their effectiveness will hinge on navigating a vastly altered international landscape. The once-solidarities of the Cold War have faded, leaving the UN in a fractured, multipolar order. Countries like India now engage with both the United States and Russia, while the United Arab Emirates balances membership in Brics, American security partnerships, and the Abraham Accords. This a la carte approach to international relations, where nations forge ad-hoc coalitions around specific issues, is now the norm. There is no uniform code of conduct for these interactions, but participation is essential. The secretary general will invariably be present at these multi-party tables, with a crucial role akin to a head waiter - not making the decisions, but ensuring the proceedings run smoothly. Drawing from past experiences, the new secretary general could consider ten recommendations to better fulfill their role amidst this complex environment.",
  "summary": "The race to lead the UN is going from orderly to fraught. Repeated Security Council straw polls have failed to produce a candidate acceptable to its five permanent members. And so new contenders have entered the arena, including the UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh . Whoever succeeds Antonio Guterres at the end of December will deserve congratulations because they will have been chosen by a council that…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}