Germany lost a vote on Wednesday for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Germany loses out to Austria and Portugal
Germany needed a two-thirds majority of votes in the wider UN General Assembly to land 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. Both Austria and Portugal won those seats as they had received more votes than Germany.
Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were also elected unpoosed to seats on the UN Security Council.
Germany, a top UN contributor financially, had pushed hard for UNSC seat
DW’s Benjamin Alvarez Gruber, who was in New York for the vote, noted that Germany is the second-largest contributor to the UN.
Ahead of the vote, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany has a “good offer” and is ready to take responsibility on the important committee, which is tasked with peacekeeping and international security. Wadephul had advocated for reform of the UN Security Council to advocate a stronger role for global south nations.
The UN Security Council is the only body in the UN whose resolutions are legally binding.
The Security Council consists of 15 of the 193 member states. The US, UK, China, Russia, and France are the five permanent members of the council and have veto power.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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