Donald Trump says UN "never follow that letter up" on global conflicts

The United Nations is choosing a successor to Secretary-General António Guterres, who is due to leave in December after ten years, as the organization confronts broad distrust, armed conflicts, climate and health threats, and a budget squeeze partly tied to reduced U.S. funding. The race has no fixed date and depends on Security Council agreement before Dec. 31; seven candidates are formally competing, with regional rotation favoring Latin America and the Caribbean, and four women among five candidates from that region. U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have sharply questioned the UN’s effectiveness; Trump has criticized its handling of global conflicts, saying it favors pronouncements over enforcement. The outcome matters because the next leader will inherit an 81-year-old institution facing pressure over its relevance and resources.