On Monday, December 22, Argentina's Foreign Affairs' Minister Pablo Quirno officially launched the candidacy of Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations at the Palacio San Martín.

During his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Grossi's candidacy “arises from a profound reflection on the critical moment that the multilateral system is going through and on the type of leadership that the United Nations needs today to regain effectiveness and credibility, without which its essence is stripped of meaning and mystique.” For Foreign Minister Quirno, what is needed is “leadership with the courage to do what is difficult and right, even when it is uncomfortable, rather than opting for easy but ineffective solutions (...), leadership that prioritizes action, trust-building, and responsibility. We are convinced that all these qualities are embodied in Ambassador Grossi.”

With more than 40 years of diplomatic experience and outstanding work at the helm of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi has established himself as an international leader capable of acting and mediating effectively in critical situations for international peace and security.

As a founding member of the United Nations, Argentina strongly promotes cooperation among nations and believes that, in a complex global scenario marked by multidimensional conflicts, it is imperative to refocus the Organization's daily work on the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

For this crucial task, Argentina believes that Rafael Mariano Grossi has the leadership, experience, knowledge, and skills required by the current situation.

Over the past six years, Grossi has succeeded in transforming the IAEA into a central player at the intersection of international security, energy, science, and development, with responsible use of the Agency's resources.

It should be recalled that the selection process for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations began on November 25, through a joint note from the Presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Finally, it should be noted that the position of Secretary-General is the highest position within the United Nations multilateral system. In the Organization's 80 years of operation, only once has a Latin American—Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, from 1982 to 1991—held the position of Secretary-General.