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Argentine diplomat Virginia Gamba has entered the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, according to UN officials.
Her candidacy arrives amid a growing international movement to appoint the first female leader in the organisation’s 80-year history.
While the top position traditionally rotates among global regions—suggesting a South American successor is likely—Gamba faces a competitive field of prominent regional figures, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and ex-Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan.
Gamba brings extensive experience to her bid, having served as the UN’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict from 2017 until 2025.
Her career has focused on high-stakes diplomacy, ranging from chemical weapons investigations to peace and security strategies.
She joins fellow countryman Rafael Grossi, the current head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall in the pursuit of the office.
Notably, candidates like Gamba do not need to be nominated by their home country to run, allowing for a broader pool of international applicants.
The formal selection process to succeed António Guterres began last November, with the new term set to commence on January 1, 2027.
The UN Security Council is expected to begin evaluating candidates by the end of July, eventually providing a recommendation to the General Assembly.
If selected, the new secretary-general will serve a five-year term that is renewable once, leading the global body through a period of intense geopolitical complexity and calls for institutional reform.
