Germany lost a vote for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, marking the first time it has failed to secure a seat since joining the UN in 1973. The country lost the highly contested positions to Austria and Portugal after failing to obtain a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the outcome as a “bitter defeat.”
Reasons for the Loss
Mr. Wadephul attributed the loss to growing anti-German sentiment fueled by Russia’s campaign. He claimed that Russia opposed Germany’s candidacy due to Berlin’s strong support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. “There is our firm support for Ukraine, the fact that Russia does not want such a voice at the Security Council,” Wadephul said, according to the BBC. He added that Russia’s efforts to spread negative sentiment against Germany were no secret.
Germany’s Stance on Israel
Mr. Wadephul also noted that Germany’s special responsibility for Israel “in the Middle East conflict may also have cost votes.” He stated, “Germany will continue to live up to its historical responsibility even if, at the time, we criticised specific policies of the government.”
Election Process and Results
The UN conducted its annual election for non-permanent members of the Security Council on Wednesday. The process determines which countries will join the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—in shaping decisions on international peace and security. The General Assembly elects five countries by secret ballot every year to serve a two-year term on the 10 rotating seats of the 15-member Security Council. Seats are distributed among regional groups: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe. Candidates must win a two-thirds majority of votes.
After four rounds of voting, Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Zimbabwe, and Kyrgyzstan won the election. These five countries will serve as non-permanent members for the 2027-2028 term. Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were elected unopposed, securing seats allocated to their respective regions. Kyrgyzstan defeated the Philippines for the seat representing Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Germany, one of the top contributors to the UN, received 104 votes, falling short of Portugal’s 134 and Austria’s 131. This is the first time Germany has failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Russia’s Role
Russia has not yet responded to accusations that it lobbied against Germany’s membership. Before the election, Mr. Wadephul had stated that Germany had a good offer and was ready to take responsibility on the important committee responsible for peacekeeping and international security.
