Indonesia Hopes UN Secretary-General-Elect Will Continue Reform Agenda

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia hopes that the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General-elect, who will begin serving next year, will continue the UN reform agenda in line with the aspirations of the global community. Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, said Indonesia expects the incoming UN Secretary-General to have a vision for continuing reforms and strengthening the credibility of the organization.

“What we hope for is a UN Secretary-General who can continue UN reforms and return to something more concrete that can make the UN itself more credible, as well as truly effective and efficient in carrying out its mandate,” Yvonne said during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

She emphasized that Indonesia is not directing its support toward any particular candidate in the selection of the UN Secretary-General. She said all candidates should be given an equal opportunity to demonstrate their vision for the future of the UN.

“There is no specific candidate that Indonesia wants. No. So it must be fair and equal, allowing them to demonstrate themselves and show what vision they have for the UN itself,” she said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson II, Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, said Indonesia, together with other countries, is working to formulate a joint message to whoever is elected as the next UN Secretary-General.

According to him, one of the key messages is the importance of narrowing the gap between the UN’s commitments and its capacity so that the organization can remain highly relevant in addressing global challenges.

“We want the gap between the UN’s commitments and its capacity to become smaller, so that we can ensure that the UN, which is now 80 years old, continues to remain highly relevant,” Nabyl said.

He noted that the challenges facing the world today and in the future are vastly different from those faced when the UN was first established. Therefore, regardless of who is elected as the UN Secretary-General, Indonesia will continue efforts to convey the message and seek its implementation by the incoming UN Secretary-General.

The selection process for a new UN Secretary-General to replace Antonio Guterres has begun. The new Secretary-General will serve a five-year term beginning January 1, 2027. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

So far, the names emerging as candidates for UN Secretary-General include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who also serves as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).