Daunting Tasks ahead for the new UN Secretary-General by Kul Gautaam

I shared this as a brief comment for an IPS article, but they published it as an op-ed.
Kul

The Daunting Tasks Ahead for the New UN Secretary-General

Author: Kul C. Gautam

Publication: Inter Press Service (IPS)

Date: December 10, 2025

Click here for the article

Summary:

Kul C. Gautam argues the next UN Secretary-General, taking office in 2027, faces a highly inopportune moment as the UN is bypassed and multilateralism challenged by powerful states preferring multipolar spheres of influence over genuine multilateralism. 

The incoming Secretary-General will inherit an unprecedented financial crisis and a pressing need for institutional reorganization simply to keep the UN afloat. 

Gautam proposes electing the first-ever female Secretary-General as a promising starting point, alongside restructuring UN financing to be less dependent on wealthy states' whims. 

While consolidation of the UN's sprawling, underfunded architecture is underway through the UN80 Initiative, leaders of the most powerful states, particularly the veto-wielding P5, appear disinclined to empower the world's top diplomat as a true global leader, potentially preferring a compliant "Secretary" rather than a strong "General." 

However, Gautam notes the rise of the Global South through groupings like BRICS+ and G20 is shifting the balance of power away from UN founding states, creating potential to strengthen multilateralism—the only viable way to confront climate change, pandemics, widening inequalities, and AI revolution challenges.

Quotes:

"The election of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations comes at a highly inopportune moment in 2026, when the UN is being bypassed, and multilateralism—with the UN at its core—is under increasing challenge from some of the world's most powerful states and leaders." — Kul C. Gautam

"While many enlightened global citizens—especially Gen Z—hope for a bold, inspiring figure at the helm, the major powers may prefer a more compliant 'Secretary' rather than a strong, strategic 'General.'" — Kul C. Gautam

"The world urgently needs a more effective UN to address these pressing global challenges—none of which any nation, however rich or powerful, can tackle alone." — Kul C. Gautam