UN Sec-Gen Race: Tight Field, Global Tensions

0:00It's April 20th. This is Global News Today, powered by AI, your world, in real time. I'm Cory with the Story. Four candidates are stepping up this week to audition for the next United Nations Secretary General Spot, a sharp drop from the 13 who competed. Ten years ago, when Antonio Guterres got the job, kicking things off Tuesday is Chile's former president, Michelle Bachelet, followed by Argentine's UN nuclear chief Rafael Mariano Groci. Wednesday brings Costa Rica's Rebecca Grinspan and Senegal's ex-president Mackie Saul in front of ambassadors from all 193 members, nations. The world looks way different now than in 2016, with deep splits among big powers blocking UN action on wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere. Back then, the organization wrote high on the Paris Climate Deal and Global Development Goals, drawing ambitious hopefuls who saw the race as a profile, boost. These days, potential candidates and their backers play it safe, fearing one wrong move

1:03could tick off Washington or Beijing, and spark real diplomatic fallout. Experts like Richard Gowen from the International Crisis Group, point to the UN's fading clout in a conflict heavy landscape as a big reason for the caution. Latin America's up next in the traditional regional rotation, which fits three of these four contenders, though Eastern Europe still waits his turn. There's ongoing push for the first woman leader, backed by Gutera's and groups like GWL voices, but Bashlet already faces U.S. pushback from, Republicans labeling her too extreme on issues like abortion. With straw poles looming in more nominations possible, this tightfield shows how global tensions are reshaping the UN's top job hunt keeping. Everyone on edge, till December 31st.