US-China Split on UN Secretary-General Pick; Third Straw Poll Inconclusive

In the third UN Security Council straw poll for the next Secretary-General, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rebeca Grynspan, and Rafael Grossi lead, but no consensus emerged. The US backs Grossi, while China signals preference for a female candidate, reflecting a US-China rift that could prolong the selection process and complicate UN leadership dynamics.