An Argentine candidate to preside over the UN
The possibility of diplomat Rafael Grossi becoming the next Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) should be welcomed by the international community and supported by the government of Javier Milei . Not simply because he is an Argentinian, but also because of his capacity and vast experience , world-renowned, at the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , which he has directed from 2019 until today.
Behind the turbulent international relations, shaken today by the prolonged war in Ukraine , after the Russian invasion, and by the war conflict in the Middle East , there remains an even greater concern, derived from the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe .
Incidentally, both geopolitical tensions and the virtual paralysis of the United Nations Security Council and the upcoming expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start III) , in February 2026, threaten the stability of the nuclear order. This situation increases uncertainty and the risks of renewed, uncontrolled nuclear proliferation.
Hence, Grossi's experience could be relevant in addressing these challenges from a hypothetical UN Secretary-General's position, once the current incumbent, Portuguese António Guterres , completes his term.
Grossi holds a degree in Political Science from the Catholic University of Argentina; he earned a Master's degree in International Relations and a PhD in History and International Politics from the University of Geneva. He graduated from the National Foreign Service Institute in 1985. As an expert on security, disarmament, and nuclear nonproliferation, he represented Argentina in various forums related to these issues. Between 1997 and 2000, he chaired the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on the International Register of Arms and subsequently served as advisor to the UN Under-Secretary-General on disarmament matters. Between 2002 and 2007, he served as Chief of Staff of the IAEA and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
After serving at the Argentine embassy in Austria, he became Director General of the IAEA in 2019, becoming the first Latin American to head the organization. He was re-elected until 2027. He visited North Korea 's nuclear facilities and participated in meetings with representatives of Iran to reach an agreement to freeze its nuclear program. He also held meetings with the presidents of Russia , Vladimir Putin , and Ukraine , Volodymyr Zelensky , with the aim of avoiding a nuclear escalation.
The IAEA was established in 1957 to promote the peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy and prevent the proliferation of such weapons. Most member countries accept the monitoring by IAEA staff, which has submitted critical reports on Iranian developments and also on the lack of information provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran. This situation has led to a furore in recent days. unfair accusations against Grossi by an advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Supreme Leader Ali Larijani . He stressed that Tehran will make the Argentine diplomat "pay" after the escalation of the war, without giving further details about the consequences he would face.
Before the conflict escalated, Grossi had stated that "Iran was not cooperating with the agency as it should have" and that it was enriching uranium to 60% and restricting access to its nuclear facilities. He explained that "there is always an intention to use the IAEA to validate positions, on one side or the other," and clarified: "We are the independent voice at this moment."
Although there is no official list of candidates for UN Secretary-General yet, in addition to the IAEA head, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet ; Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley ; former Ecuadorian Prime Minister María Fernanda Espinoza ; and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have been mentioned.
Grossi's ability to gain the trust of key international players and prevent a nuclear crisis has made him one of the most recognized diplomats in the international arena, putting his name in the running as a potential UN Secretary-General, a position that, since its creation, has only been held by one Latin American: Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar . A quote from a recent interview with LA NACION speaks volumes about this Argentine diplomat: “Impartiality is also an act of courage” .
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