Jewish Diplomat Rebeca Grynspan Leads Race to Become First Female UN Secretary-General
Rebeca Grynspan, a Jewish diplomat from Costa Rica and daughter of Holocaust survivors, is emerging as the leading candidate to become the next UN Secretary-General. If confirmed, she would be the first woman and the first Jewish person to hold the position. Grynspan has already passed a significant hurdle by securing ten votes in a recent informal Security Council straw poll, with only one abstention, placing her ahead of six other candidates including former Guyanese ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Grynspan’s extensive political and diplomatic background includes senior roles in the Costa Rican government and leadership of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Secretary-General role involves overseeing the UN Secretariat and mediating international conflicts. Her candidacy is seen as a continuation of current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s tenure, which ends in December 2026. However, her appointment depends on avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members (the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France).
Her connection to Israel is complex. She has close personal ties to the country, with a sister living in Israel engaged in academic research and nephews who served in the Israel Defense Forces. Grynspan often references her Jewish heritage in speeches about peace and refugee issues. Conversely, under her leadership, UNCTAD has issued critical reports on Israeli policies in the West Bank, documenting economic damages exceeding $200 billion to the Palestinian economy over two decades due to closures and military actions.
The UN faces significant challenges including budget crises and diminished influence over global power centers. Other candidates include Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, opposed by the US for her stance on China, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has Trump administration backing. The final decision, requiring Security Council recommendation and General Assembly approval, is expected by the end of 2026, potentially marking a historic first female leadership of the UN.
