SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA – The Costa Rican government has officially nominated Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, former Vice President and current Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with extensive experience in multilateral organizations, as its candidate for the next UN Secretary-General. This move enters her into the competition to select a new head to lead the United Nations starting in 2027, as current Secretary-General António Guterres' term concludes in December 2026.

The Strengths of 'First Woman, Latin American Representative' 

Grynspan, a 69-year-old Costa Rican economist, served as Vice President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998 and currently spearheads UNCTAD. At a press conference announcing her candidacy in San José, she expressed confidence, stating, "Costa Rica's reputation is my first calling card, and so is my trajectory. I am not starting from scratch, but from a position of strength." She simultaneously emphasized the international community's desire for the first female UN Secretary-General and the opportunity for a Secretary-General from Latin America, a position that has been vacant for over 30 years since Peru's Javier Pérez de Cuéllar in 1991.

However, Grynspan is not alone in this field. Chile has put forward former President Michelle Bachelet, and Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena has also been mentioned in diplomatic circles, suggesting a fierce competition among female candidates from Latin America.

A Veteran of Multilateral Diplomacy: UNCTAD, SEGIB, UNDP 

Grynspan's biggest asset is her brilliant and successful career accumulated over a long period in multilateral international organizations. She previously served as Ibero-American Secretary-General (SEGIB), UN Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, among other key roles within the UN system. Notably, her "decisive role" in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative immediately following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, which was crucial for global food security while she led UNCTAD, is considered a major accomplishment. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves prioritized her "highly successful" international career and high credibility over her domestic political history as the primary reasons for the nomination.

The Balance of Reform and Defense, and the Middle East Issue 

Grynspan positions herself as the balancing force capable of forging consensus in a global era marked by the "contradiction" of skepticism toward the multilateral system and reduced funding for international cooperation. She asserted, "I know the United Nations very well, well enough to reform it, and well enough to defend it. Both are necessary. In this era, being a multilateralist means being a reformer."

However, analysts note that her Jewish background may lead to closer scrutiny of her stance concerning the Gaza war. Grynspan countered this by stressing that she has always supported the UN's existing position—that two states should coexist peacefully—and affirmed, "My identity provides empathy, not prejudice. I have proven this in every position I have held at the UN."

Chances of Success and Challenges 

Carlos Cascante, coordinator of the International Politics Program at the National University of Costa Rica, assessed that Grynspan has a high chance of success due to the advantages of her gender, geographic origin, and internal UN experience. However, he pointed out challenges: nations strongly demanding UN reform may prefer an external candidate over an insider, and the nomination by the current strongly pro-American Costa Rican government could be a conditional factor for some countries.

Despite these potential hurdles, the Costa Rican Foreign Minister stated that initial support has already been secured from numerous countries, and a cost-effective campaign will be pursued based on the candidate's widespread recognition. Grynspan immediately returned to Geneva for her UNCTAD duties as she commenced this intensive campaign.

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