In a move that repositions Argentina within the international community, the government of Javier Milei officially announced on Wednesday the candidacy of Rafael Mariano Grossi, current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to hold the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations for the 2027–2031 term. If confirmed, Grossi would be the first Argentine to reach the leadership of the most important body in international multilateralism.
The announcement was led by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, who described the nomination as "an honor and a privilege" and highlighted the international recognition that Grossi has consolidated during his six years at the helm of the IAEA. He also emphasized his "great leadership capacity in the face of serious situations affecting international peace and security," a profile especially valued in a global scenario marked by conflicts, regional tensions and a UN that, 80 years after its founding, faces questions about its effectiveness.
Rafael Grossi.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry accompanied the nomination with an official statement reviewing the diplomat's extensive career: more than four decades of service, solid knowledge of the multilateral system and a performance that led to his re-election for a second term at the head of the IAEA in 2023. His most relevant efforts have been aimed at "contributing to international peace and security through open, efficient, present and results-oriented management."
The document also highlights his experience as an impartial interlocutor in conflicts and crises of high global sensitivity, his technical and linguistic proficiency and his commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter. For Milei's government, all these credentials make him an outstanding candidate to lead the organization at a time when the international community demands greater transparency, professionalism and institutional discipline.
Grossi's nomination comes in a context where Argentina's foreign policy has regained prominence and strategic coherence, moving away from the improvisations and ideological alignments that prevailed in previous years. Milei himself has been insisting that the country's international reintegration must be based on respect for international law, international security and cooperation with Western democracies. The proposal of a prestigious and globally respected diplomat is aligned with that direction. Rafael Grossi.
In contrast, opposition sectors that for years used foreign policy as a tool for internal activism—from approaches to authoritarian regimes to inconsistencies in multilateral organizations—now face evidence that is difficult to ignore: Argentina is once again playing in the big leagues, with a competitive candidate and a professionalized foreign policy.
The election of the next Secretary-General will be decided in 2026, with the endorsement of the Security Council and the subsequent vote of the General Assembly. The Foreign Ministry has already begun rounds of diplomatic contacts to consolidate support, convinced that Grossi embodies the profile the UN demands today: real leadership, technical capacity and credibility.
