Turkey considers Feridun Sinirlioglu for UN Secretary-General

Turkish officials are reportedly considering the nomination of Feridun Sinirlioglu, a former Turkish foreign minister and current Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.

Sinirlioglu, 70, discussed his potential candidacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. While the candidacy appears to be a serious consideration from Ankara, no formal nomination has been made. The new UN Secretary-General is expected to begin their term on January 1, 2027.

The selection process involves the 15-nation UN Security Council, where the five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France—hold veto power, followed by final approval from the 193-member General Assembly.