Rebeca Grynspan: ‘This is Latin America’s moment, it’s the region’s turn to lead the UN Secretariat’

Rebeca Grynspan is one of the most experienced Latin American politicians on the international stage. She was as vice president of Costa Rica, the country where she was born nearly 70 years ago, and later worked alongside Ban Ki-moon, who appointed her as under-secretary-general of the U.N. and associate administrator of the United Nations Development Program. A decade ago, she was unanimously elected as secretary-general of the Ibero-American Conference, and this year, she will conclude her tenure at the helm of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development.

Her name is frequently mentioned as a strong candidate for U.N. secretary-general — an idea she responds to by saying: “This is Latin America and the Caribbean’s moment, it’s Latin America and the Caribbean’s turn.” A highly respected figure in multilateral negotiations, known for her measured and composed approach, Grynspan took part last week in the International Economic Forum in Panama City, organized by CAF–Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the PRISA Group, and World in Progress (WIP).

Question. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will transfer 30,000 undocumented migrants to Guantánamo. As a Latin American citizen, how do you feel about these kinds of measures?

Answer. We need to have a better understanding about who he is talking about.

Q. But doesn’t Guantánamo suggest to you a violation of human rights?

A. It would appear to be criminalizing, but we would need to know if he is talking about people who have been tried, about convicts in the United States. Who is he talking about? We cannot know with just one tweet. Of course, Guantánamo carries significant symbolism. And I hope that no citizen of Latin America, including undocumented immigrants who have gone to the United States to seek a better life, to work, to be good citizens, ends up being deprived of their freedom.

Q. We are in Panama and Trump has demanded that the U.S. regain control of the Panama Canal. Don’t you think that the tension sparked by the White House is harmful for international political relations and the progress of Latin American societies?

A. If there are going to be changes, one would like to know what they are, because the economy adapts to them. The worst thing is to maintain prolonged uncertainty, because that slows down investment, and leads the private sector to hunker down and wait. The world has adapted to many things, but one must have certainty, know what the new rules of the game are.

Q. And how long do you think this phase of uncertainty will last?

A. I hope it’s brief, and we should try not to overstate it. A trade war, a tariff war, requires that tariffs be very widespread, and in that sense, we must be patient to see what happens. Will we face tariffs on certain sectors with some justification, or will we face something more generalized? These are two distinct scenarios...

Q. Tariffs are not only detrimental to the region, but also to the United States, as they affect domestic competition. Are you concerned?

A. Trade is often pointed to as the source of the problem, but the real problem is the discontent of large sectors of the population who feel that they do not have the same opportunities as before, that they have lost in terms of real wages. And this discontent must be addressed by governments. Tariffs alone do not produce the result. What’s needed is a policy focused on job creation, capacity building, and domestic investment that goes beyond the tariff itself.

Q. What impact could the U.S.-China tensions have?

A. Competition is part of the global economy, but there must be some kind of coordination and cooperation between the two countries. How far this competition goes is an open question, although I have no doubt that it will be fierce. In this sense, it is important that China is betting on increasing its domestic market, this is a strategy that could help rebalance the world economy. Another point is that the structure of international trade has changed: north-north trade is now equal to south-south trade, which has not been the case for 200 years. And it is not just China, it is also India, Indonesia, Turkey and Vietnam. It is an opportunity for developing countries.

Q. You have a long political career and are well known internationally. What has politics brought to you personally?

A. In politics, I realized that one can do things that affect people’s lives for the better, and that is a privilege, a gift of life. The possibility that a little piece of your dreams can be turned into reality.

Q. And turning the question around, what have you given back to politics? What are your core values?

A. I am a person who can engage in dialogue. I am not convinced that I have all the answers, but I am convinced that I can help find the answers in a more consensual way.

Q. How would you define yourself ideologically?

A. I don’t believe in labels. Everything that was clear to us when I was at university is now very mixed up. Therefore, I would define myself less narrowly than in the past. I think what defines me is pursuit of that — believing that it is indeed possible to improve people’s lives.

Q. Your name has been floated as a possible candidate for the position of U.N. secretary-general.

A. It’s early for that, isn’t it? What I do believe is that it’s Latin America’s turn.

Q. Do you believe it’s time for Latin America, a Latin American woman, and a woman with experience in international politics? Would that be a good profile?

A. I’m not going to make the mistake of saying yes, because that defines me [laughs]. But I believe the following, and I really believe it strongly. This is Latin America and the Caribbean’s moment, it’s Latin America and the Caribbean’s turn. And I believe that Latin America and the Caribbean have many candidates who are fully qualified to take on that position excellently, so there should be competition

Q. So you’re not ruling it out...

A. ... [Grynspan smiles and remains silent]

Q. And what about your political future projection? There is also talk of your return to Costa Rica.

A. No, I am not going to return to Costa Rican politics. I have been away from Costa Rica for many years and I am not considering that, it is not in my plans.

Q. But would you stay with the U.N.?

A. The U.N. is my home now, yes. As much as I love my country, I don’t plan on returning to national politics.

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