Germany failed to secure a rotating spot on the United Nations Security Council after a vote on Wednesday evening, prompting its Foreign Minister to specifically name Russia in his statement on what he described as a “bitter defeat”. Germany lost the race for a spot on the council for the Western Europe and Others Group to Portugal and Austria.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul accused Russia of stirring up sentiment against Germany ahead of the vote deciding which countries would become one of the five new temporary members of the Council.
“There is our firm support for Ukraine, the fact that Russia does not want such a voice at the Security Council,” said Wadephul “We have always taken a clear stance on certain issues, and these are positions that not all member states share.”
He also suggested Germany’s support for Israel as another reason for the loss.
“The fact that Germany must always assume a special responsibility for Israel in the Middle East conflict may also have cost votes,” he said.
Wadeful added the country’s late entry into the race for the spot may have also affected the campaign.
Russia has not yet responded to Germany’s accusations.
During the votes to elect the new five members for a two-year term on the Council, Germany managed to secure 104 votes, while Portugal got 134 votes and Austria received 131. Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe also secured spots on the UN body.
The Security Council is the only UN organ that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorising use of force. There are currently five permanent members, consisting of China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and 10 temporary ones.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had marketed himself as a figure who would boost Berlin’s standing on the international stage, congratulated Portugal and Austria and said, “This result does not alter the tasks we face at the United Nations. Germany remains a reliable pillar of the multilateral system”.
