Turkiye has formally nominated Feridun Sinirlioglu for the post of United Nations secretary-general. The move followed an impasse in the selection process, as the latest straw poll at the UN Security Council on Friday ended inconclusively.
Ahmet Yildiz, Turkiye’s UN envoy, transmitted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s nomination letter to the presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council. The dispatch on Friday followed the UN Charter and a General Assembly resolution.
Erdogan addressed the letter to the term president of the Security Council, Aglaia Balta of Greece. The correspondence referred to a November 25, 2025, letter that originally launched the current selection process.
Erdogan cited Sinirlioglu’s career spanning more than 40 years in diplomacy. He pointed to Sinirlioglu’s previous service as foreign minister and UN envoy, alongside his appointment in 2023 to lead an independent assessment on Afghanistan.
Taking together the strategic vision I have personally witnessed, his deep knowledge of the UN system and his unwavering commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, I believe Ambassador Sinirlioglu possesses the experience and culture of consensus required to lead the United Nations Organization, said the nomination.
A candidate needs at least nine votes in the Security Council to secure the required support. Any of the five permanent members, which are the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom, can block a candidate by using a veto.
The eventual nominee must be appointed by the General Assembly. That step is generally considered a formality once the Security Council has reached an agreement.
Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to finish his term on December 31.
Eight other candidates have been nominated so far. The list includes Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet are also running. Ugandan politician and diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki complete the current field of contenders.
