Albert Ramdin, the chancellor of Suriname, has been elected by acclamation as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). With 18 votes needed to lead the organization for the next five years, Ramdin becomes the first Caribbean person to head the OAS, which was created in 1948 with the purpose of promoting cooperation in human rights, security, development, and democracy in the region.
The Surinamese diplomat will succeed Luis Almagro from Uruguay, whose term ends on May 25 after a decade in office. Ramdin, who previously served as Deputy Secretary of the OAS between 2005 and 2015, gained the support of member states in an extraordinary general assembly held in Washington.
In a consensus attempt, the government of Costa Rica would have put forward its Foreign Minister, Arnoldo André, in case Ramdin did not obtain the necessary votes. However, Ramdin's sole candidacy received backing from countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
Ramdin takes on the responsibility of leading an OAS amid financial challenges and reforms driven by the United States. The organization faces regional crises, including the exit of Nicaragua and the non-participation of Venezuela and Cuba. Additionally, he will have to contend with China's influence as an observer.
In his new role, Ramdin will need to address regional disputes and U.S. pressure regarding tariffs on its partners, testing his negotiating skills. Despite the uncertainties, the chancellor of Suriname begins his term with the confidence of several countries in the region and broad support to tackle the challenges that the OAS faces today.
