Russia and the USA criticize Annalena Baerbock in the UN selection process

Russia and the USA accuse Annalena Baerbock of interfering in the powers of the Security Council as President of the UN General Assembly when selecting the next UN Secretary General. US Ambassador Jennifer Locetta described the action as an “excess of authority” and “irresponsible”. She insisted that the Security Council – whose permanent members include the United States and Russia – could also consider candidates “who have never taken part in a General Assembly dialogue.”

The background is Baerbock's role in the selection process to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The Green politician has stated several times that she is committed to a “transparent, inclusive, structured, timely and credible” selection process. As has been the case for several years, Baerbock organized public surveys of the candidates and wrote letters to the Security Council about the selection process. At the event, the audience voted on the candidates; according to diplomats, this was the first time. She had also asked the Security Council not to consider candidates who had not previously taken part in a dialogue with the General Assembly.

Baerbock sees himself as a “diplomatic superstar” and has indirectly accused the Security Council of not acting properly, said Locetta. “The President’s actions reveal hypocrisy and overall cast a bad light on the work of the General Assembly,” criticized the US ambassador.

Russia is concerned “about the role that the President of the General Assembly is trying to ascribe to herself,” said Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia in New York. In doing so, he joined criticism from the previous day from the USA, in which Baerbock was accused of, among other things, “hypocrisy”.

The decisive recommendation for the position lies with the UN Security Council, which agrees on a candidate in non-public votes, who is then appointed by the General Assembly of the 193 member countries. António Guterres is leaving office at the end of the year. There are currently eight applicants for the position.