When Austria’s leadership of the Federal President, Chancellor and Foreign Minister was in New York last September for the UN General Assembly’s High Level Week, Ambassador Gregor Kössler was the most important man for the trio. Because Kössler was the one who had all the names ready and who knew whose hands needed to be shaken. Since February 2025, the Salzburg native has headed the incredibly important representation in the city of the UN headquarters. In order to give this position a proper portfolio upgrade with a two-year, non-permanent seat on the Security Council, Kössler has shaken a lot of hands and done lobbying work for Austria since taking office. The German newspaper Welt even described him as Austria’s “ace in the hole” for the candidacy.
