UAE's Lana Nusseibeh Pledges Diplomatic Risks for Peace in UN Secretary General Bid

Lana Nusseibeh, representing the UAE, has called for significant reforms within the United Nations and committed to undertaking diplomatic risks to foster peace, should she be selected as the organization's next secretary general. Addressing the UN headquarters in New York, Ms. Nusseibeh emphasized that the UN can no longer function as it has for decades, citing diminishing development funding and escalating global divisions that impede crisis response. She proposed that the UN should curtail certain activities, reassess its expenditures, and prioritize tangible outcomes. "The development assistance of the last 30 years is not returning in the form we knew, and a UN that responds by asking for more will not be heard," Ms. Nusseibeh stated during an informal dialogue with members of the UN General Assembly. "The UN I would lead will be judged by what each country can point to, not by what the system spends." Ms. Nusseibeh, who has taken a leave of absence from her ministerial role in the Emirati government, asserted that the world body must acknowledge its limitations and withdraw from areas where other institutions are better equipped to act, thereby redirecting resources towards humanitarian emergencies and conflict prevention. "The UN cannot do everything, and the attempt dilutes what it does best," she added. These remarks emerge at a critical juncture for the UN, which is currently grappling with financial constraints, declining international aid, and deepening rifts among member states concerning major global conflicts. Ms. Nusseibeh cautioned that the international order is becoming increasingly fragmented, underscoring the urgent need for effective diplomacy. "There are more conflicts today than at any point since this organisation was founded, and the balance between consensus and confrontation is tilting the wrong way," she observed. "The security, prosperity and future we share depend on decisions no country can make alone. But rebuilding the trust that makes those decisions possible is now the central work of the UN." Ms. Nusseibeh affirmed her willingness to take risks for peace if chosen, even with the possibility of failure. "I don’t seek for the office to look for credit in trying. But I think not trying would be a marker of failure," she stated, describing herself as a "political risk taker for peace even if failure seems the likely outcome". When questioned about pursuing accountability, particularly when a permanent member of the Security Council is implicated, Ms. Nusseibeh indicated she would adhere to the UN Charter and international law, respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Drawing on her experience in negotiating Security Council resolutions concerning Gaza and Afghanistan, she pledged to prioritize conflict prevention over post-outbreak responses. "As Secretary General, I will engage early on, before disputes harden into war," Ms. Nusseibeh committed. She also highlighted that the challenges for the next UN chief extend beyond traditional security concerns, identifying artificial intelligence, youth unemployment, and climate change as critical issues. She warned that technological advancements could exacerbate existing inequalities without collective governmental action. "Artificial intelligence will be either the great equaliser or the great divider. The choice is ours," she remarked. Furthermore, she stressed the UN's need to better communicate its purpose to younger generations, many of whom lack direct connection to the historical context of its founding. "We need to resell the reason why this organisation was created," she urged. "Many young people will not grow up remembering the savagery of the world wars that led to the creation of this organisation, and as a mother and a parent of two young boys, I would not want to see them grow up in a world where we need to make that case again because we have not been able to prevent war in our time again from being resolved." She also pledged to uphold human rights with "rigour and without double standards," asserting that the organization's credibility hinges on consistent and fair application of its principles. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ms. Nusseibeh advocated for a two-state solution that allows for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions. She referenced Security Council resolution 2803 as a potential framework for progress, calling it a significant opportunity for diplomatic advancement. "As Secretary General, I will be committed to pursuing progress on the implementation of these relevant UN resolutions," she stated. "This is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss." Reflecting on her aspirations for the Middle East, Ms. Nusseibeh shared that her upbringing in a war-affected region has shaped her understanding of the consequences of diplomatic failures. However, she emphasized that her regional background would not dictate her priorities, stating, "I would be a Secretary General for every continent and every conflict and every member state in the room. There is no hierarchy of civilians suffering." Ms. Nusseibeh's candidacy has garnered considerable support from various countries and civil society groups, including Afghan women's rights organizations. During the extensive Q&A session, she addressed questions concerning the UAE's alleged involvement in Sudan's civil war and its purported support for the Rapid Support Forces. Ms. Nusseibeh described Sudan as "a litmus test of the success of any incoming secretary general," calling it a "terrible humanitarian catastrophe on the ground" that urgently requires a cessation of hostilities and a political process for a transitional government reflecting the Sudanese people's democratic aspirations. The UAE has consistently denied allegations of supplying weapons in the conflict.