“Leadership for Peace” Open Debate
On Monday (15 December), the Security Council will convene for an open debate on “Leadership for Peace” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders Ban Ki-moon is one of the anticipated briefers. A scholar with expertise in international relations and the UN is also expected to brief.
The open debate is the signature event of Slovenia’s December presidency, and it focuses on the role and the qualities of the next Secretary-General in the context of a global environment characterised by acute challenges both around the globe and within the UN. The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, will complete his second term on 31 December 2026. In line with General Assembly resolution 79/327 of 5 September on the revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, the process of selecting and appointing the next Secretary-General started on 25 November with a joint letter from the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly. (For background on the joint letter, see our 25 November What’s in Blue story.)
Slovenia has circulated a concept note ahead of the meeting. It says that geopolitical instability is rising and armed conflicts are at their highest since the UN’s founding, a situation compounded by disregard for international law, stalled progress on the sustainable development goals, and growing social inequality. It notes that the institutions created after World War II are struggling to adapt to shifting power dynamics, underscoring the urgent need for renewed, effective multilateralism with the UN at its core, adding that “[n]o genuine alternative” to the UN exists. In setting out this context, the open debate is in continuity with Slovenia’s previous Leadership for Peace open debate during its last presidency in September 2024, which examined how leadership can strengthen multilateralism amid declining respect for the UN Charter, Security Council divisions, and the Council’s loss of credibility in connection with its lack of action on the wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
The concept note for Monday’s open debate cites a quote from the first UN Secretary-General Trygve Lie who described the role as “the most impossible job on Earth”. The concept note says that the Secretary-General is often seen as the first diplomat, tasked with balancing diplomatic skills and managing the Secretariat and its international civil service. It stresses the importance of the Secretary-General’s coordinating role in light of the decentralisation and variety of the UN’s activities and decision-making mechanisms, as well as the tasks assigned by the member states. It says that the next Secretary-General “will have to continue” Guterres’ efforts to reform the UN at a time of deep financial crisis. It also notes that the upcoming appointment will take place alongside growing pressure for “a better representation of women” in UN leadership.
The concept note sets out several guiding questions for the meeting:
- How can the Secretary-General best work with the Security Council in common pursuit of averting, mitigating and ending armed conflicts?
- How can the wider membership be in support of the endeavours of the Secretary-General in addressing key global challenges?
- What are some of the most effective ways for the Secretary-General to use their authority under Article 99 of the Charter?
- What would be some of the most important qualities that could contribute to the successful work of the Secretary-General?
Based on his own experience as Secretary-General (2007-2016), Ban is expected to share some reflections on how the next Secretary-General should tackle current and emerging challenges affecting both the UN and the world. Responding to a question at a press conference in 2016 on “the single most important character trait” the UN Secretary-General should have, Ban emphasised that his experience taught him the importance of a far-reaching vision for the future of “the world, the people and planet” stressing in particular the need for “compassionate leadership” for vulnerable populations. He also referred to the importance of balancing ideals with practical realities on the ground, calling for flexibility aimed at achieving the “better common good”.
In more recent interventions, Ban emphasised the importance of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, stressing the need for the Security Council to “do more to support the Secretary-General in using his ‘good offices’ to help prevent and reduce the threat of conflict”. On Monday, Ban may share similar reflections and provide some recommendations on how to balance the different demands of the Secretary-General’s office, including diplomatic and managerial demands as well as political pressures.
The second briefer may reflect on the evolving role of the UN Secretary-General and the broader international context shaping the upcoming selection process. Among other issues, the speaker may note the flexible nature of the office under the UN Charter and how successive Secretaries-General have interpreted their duties differently and expanded the role in response to the particular challenges affecting their time. The briefer may also note that Article 99 of the UN Charter, which empowers the Secretary-General with the capacity to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security, also provides an independent political role to the Secretary-General. The speaker might observe that in the current climate of deep funding shortfalls, Security Council gridlock, and disregard for international norms (including those encoded in the UN Charter), the next Secretary‑General will have to navigate between assertive advocacy for multilateralism and international norms and cautious diplomacy that maintains support from major powers.
The qualities of the next Secretary-General were a key issue of contention during the negotiations of the joint letter. Among other things, the letter invites candidates with “proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations and strong diplomatic, communication and multilingual skills”. It also says that the position of Secretary-General “requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and a firm commitment to the purposes and principles” of the UN Charter.
The letter notes “with regret” that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General and encourages UN member states to “strongly consider nominating women as candidates”. It also notes the “importance of regional diversity in the selection of Secretaries-General”. While these references were added to the joint letter following proposals from the ten elected Council members (E10), additional proposed references to independence, political leadership, and commitment to multilateralism and international law were opposed by the permanent members (P5) and were not included in the joint letter. Proposed references to the importance of the Secretary-General’s role in the context of the implementation of the three pillars of the UN—peace and security, human rights, and development—were similarly opposed by the P5, which have been generally resistant to language that could be used to narrow the possible pool of candidates. A similar dynamic might emerge on Monday.
At the open debate, several participants are expected to call for candidates who are able to demonstrate political courage and independence, impartiality, and proven experience in conflict prevention and resolution. Speakers are also likely to stress the need for an inclusive, transparent, and rigorous selection process, urging all candidates to fully participate in every stage, including at the General Assembly hearings.
Some participants, particularly among the P5, may adopt a more restrictive stance. Russia’s recent remarks during the Working Methods open debate—referring to the “selection of the worthiest candidate for the future head of the Secretariat”—have reinforced expectations that it will likely favour a candidate with a narrower interpretation of the Secretary-General’s role.
While several participants from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) are expected to advocate for the next Secretary-General to come from this region, the US is likely to reiterate its position of calling for “candidates from all regional groupings” and for “as wide a pool of candidates as possible”. In line with previous statements on this topic, the US might also assert that it “looks forward” to a Secretary-General who shares the “vision of returning the UN to its founding purpose of maintaining international peace and security”.