Germany lost Wednesday’s vote for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Germany lost to Austria and Portugal
Germany needed a two-thirds majority in the broader UN General Assembly to get a temporary seat on the UNSC for the next 10 years.
Germany was in competition with Austria and Portugal for two seats in the “Western Europe and Others” group. Austria and Portugal both won those seats because they received more votes than Germany.
Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were also elected to seats on the United Nations Security Council.
Germany, the top contributor to the UN economically, had fought hard for the UNSC seat.
DW’s Benjamin Alvarez Gruber, who was in New York for the vote, said Germany is the second-largest contributor to the United Nations.
Before the vote, German Foreign Minister Johann Waddefull said Germany had a “good proposal” and was ready to take responsibility on the important committee, which is tasked with peacekeeping and international security. Wadefull has advocated reform of the United Nations Security Council to advocate a stronger role for countries of the Global South.
The UN Security Council is the only body in the UN whose resolutions are legally binding.
The Security Council consists of 15 countries out of 193 member states. The US, Britain, China, Russia and France are the five permanent members of the council and have veto power.
Edited by: Zack Crellin