UN Security Council's Five Permanent Members to Hold Consultations on Next Secretary-General

Consultations among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council on selecting the next UN secretary-general will take place soon, Russia's foreign ministry said, according to TASS.

Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term is set to expire on December 31, 2026, making the selection of his successor a pressing matter for the Security Council in the coming months. The report did not specify a firm date for the consultations or name any candidates under consideration.

The selection of a UN secretary-general traditionally involves a process in which the Security Council's five permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France, along with the council's other members, negotiate and eventually recommend a candidate for approval by the full UN General Assembly.

The process has historically been closely watched for signs of geopolitical alignment or disagreement among the permanent members, given each holds veto power over the council's recommendation. No further details on the timeline for a final decision or the broader selection process were included in the available report.