ANKARA, October 2026 — Turkey has officially nominated former foreign minister Feridun Sinirlioglu to become the next United Nations secretary-general, setting up a likely clash with Greece on the Security Council.
Turkish state media reported the nomination on Saturday 31 October. Feridun Sinirlioglu, 70, had previously floated his candidacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Ahmet Yildiz, Turkey’s current representative to the UN, told Anadolu that the name went forward with backing from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the report.
Who is Feridun Sinirlioglu
Sinirlioglu served as Turkey’s top diplomat for a few months in 2015, during an interim period between elections. He then served as Turkey’s UN ambassador from 2016 to 2023.
Read more: Turkish Opposition Accuses Erdogan of Losing Ground to Greece
He now leads the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as its secretary-general. His three-year mandate runs to December 2027, but the top UN job starts on 1 January.
Erdogan has also long called for reform of the UN Security Council and has criticised the dominance of its five permanent members. Kathimerini noted that Sinirlioglu is likely to reflect that agenda.
Greece holds a seat at the table
The 15-member Security Council chooses the next secretary-general, and the five veto powers carry the most weight. The 193-member General Assembly must then give final approval.
Greece sits on the council as one of its 10 elected members, and Kathimerini expects Athens to be an obstacle. Both countries have clashed at the Security Council in recent days.
Israel, a close ally of the United States, could also push back, Kathimerini reported.
Seven other candidates are competing to replace António Guterres, who has led the UN for almost 10 years. Under an informal regional rotation, a candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean could be selected.
Source: KATHIMERINI
