Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda’s nominee for United Nations Secretary-General, María Fernanda Espinosa, is emerging as one of the strongest contenders for the post because of her diplomatic experience, multilingual abilities and leadership within the UN system.
Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne said international publications and diplomatic observers have already begun highlighting Espinosa as a serious candidate in the race to succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
“There are many who see her as among the best possible candidates to become Secretary General,” Browne said.
Espinosa, a former Ecuadorian foreign minister and former president of the United Nations General Assembly, was nominated by Antigua and Barbuda earlier this month.
“In fact, she just entered the race about two weeks ago. Antigua and Barbuda nominated her,” Browne said.
Browne described Espinosa as a “formidable candidate” and pointed to her multilingual background as one of her major advantages in international diplomacy.
“Maria speaks three different languages — English, Spanish, French,” Browne said. “That is one of the strengths.”
The Prime Minister argued that multilingualism is increasingly important for leadership positions within international organizations.
“Normally, when you’re emerging as the top candidate in any of these international organizations, almost invariably, you’re required to have at least a second language,” Browne said.
Browne said Espinosa was born in Spain “if I’m not mistaken,” but spent most of her life in Ecuador, where she later served as foreign minister and defense minister before rising through the United Nations system.
“She’d have worked in the UN system for a number of years so she’d understand the UN system,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister added that Espinosa’s diplomatic experience and consensus-building approach make her an attractive option for member states within the United Nations.
“The good thing about Maria, Maria will be more of a consensus leader,” Browne said. “I think she can bring people together.”
Browne also suggested that, in the absence of another CARICOM-backed contender, Espinosa is effectively becoming the Caribbean’s candidate for the position.
“In the absence of a Caribbean candidate, I see Maria as the de facto Caribbean candidate because she was nominated by Antigua,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister said Antigua and Barbuda initially delayed endorsing a candidate while waiting to see whether another Caribbean figure would enter the race, but eventually decided to support Espinosa after consultations within CARICOM.
Espinosa, a former foreign affairs and defence minister of Ecuador and former president of the UN General Assembly, is also a member of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.
Three of the five current candidates for the post are members of the NGIC, adding a notable Azerbaijani-linked dimension to the UN leadership race.