Washington, USA โ Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin was elected on Monday as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), set to succeed Uruguayโs Luis Almagro in May.
Ramdinโs victory marks a historic moment as he becomes the first Caribbean leader to assume the role. His candidacy was strongly backed by the 14-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), solidifying regional unity within the organization.
A Call for Unity
In his first remarks as Secretary General-elect, Ramdin emphasized the need for cooperation among member states. โMy commitment is to serve all member states of this organization. Our collective strength lies in our ability to work together,โ he stated.
A Consensus Candidate
Ramdin was elected unopposed after Paraguayโs Foreign Minister Rubรฉn Ramรญrez Lezcano, who had U.S. backing under President Donald Trump, withdrew due to insufficient support. His election was confirmed by acclamation in a session chaired by Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren, with participation from multiple regional diplomats.
This rare consensus follows years of deep divisions under Almagro, who faced criticism from left-leaning governments for his close alignment with Washington, the OASโ largest financial contributor.
Ramdin secured broad support, initially gaining backing from progressive governments in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay, followed by Mexico. He also received endorsements from centrist and center-right administrations in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
Paraguay and the U.S. Step Back
Paraguay withdrew its candidate but expressed frustration over Brazil and Uruguayโs sudden withdrawal of support. Paraguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Vรญctor Verdรบn remarked that his country had presented a candidate โfree from ideological polarizationโ and reiterated Paraguayโs commitment to the OAS despite the outcome.
While the Trump administration has been largely disengaged from multilateral organizations, it did not oppose Surinameโs bid. During the session, U.S. State Department official Michael Kozak urged Ramdin to โprioritize the defense of democracyโ and criticized Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua for โrobbing their people of basic rights.โ He also issued a caution against โexternal adversaries seeking to expand their influenceโ in the region, indirectly referencing China.
Transition in May
Ramdin will officially assume office in May for the 2025-2030 term, facing pressing challenges such as the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, escalating violence in Haiti, regional migration issues, and trade disputes between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada under the Trump administration.
A seasoned diplomat, Ramdin previously served as the OASโ Assistant Secretary General from 2005 to 2015 under Chilean Secretary General Josรฉ Miguel Insulza. Since 2020, he has held the role of Surinameโs Foreign Minister.
He replaces Almagro, whose tenure since 2015 was marked by a strong focus on democracy and human rights, particularly through his firm stance on Venezuela and Nicaragua.
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