On 2 June 2025, Annalena Baerbock, former Foreign Minister of Germany, was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), receiving 167 out of 193 votes in a secret ballot initiated by Russia. She will succeed Philemon Yang of Cameroon and assume her one-year term in September 2025, coinciding with major global events including the UN’s 80th anniversary.
Baerbock becomes the first woman from Western Europe and the fifth woman overall to hold the post. Germany had initially nominated diplomat Helga Schmid, but switched to Baerbock after a political reshuffle.
Despite Russia’s opposition, Baerbock pledged to work with all nations under her theme “Better Together“, emphasizing unity in tackling global challenges like conflict and climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed her election and called for global cooperation to address shared problems.
