UN Security Council: Why Germany wants to go to the blocker club

Suddenly Johann WadePhul sat at the powerful table. Last Monday in New York, the Federal Foreign Minister on the United Nations Security Council was able to speak as a guest speaker about the Russian airspace injuries. WadePhul’s square was located on the edge of the horseshoe table, and after about five minutes the CDU politician had to clear the chair again. But at least – it was a short rendezvous with the very big world policy.

When it comes to the federal government, Germany will soon get a regular place in the highest UN committee. At least for two years. The general assembly will decide next June about the occupation of the ten non-independent seats in the Security Council for 2027 and 2028. The group of Western European countries are entitled to two places. But there are three applicants, besides Germany, Austria and Portugal. In the Federal Foreign Office, one suspects: It will be a very scarce affair.

Germany is now in the election campaign. “We belong to this table”says the Foreign Minister confidently. “We perceive responsibility. We believe in the United Nations system.” The federal government can even prove this: Germany is the second largest financier of the UN if one adds up compulsory contributions and voluntary payments for aid programs and peace missions. Most recently, a total of more than five billion euros per year flowed from the federal budget to the United Nations. That could help, but you can’t buy a seat in the Security Council.

A failure would also be a embarrassment for the foreign policy ambitions of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, especially if Germany against Austria – almost shameful by Cordoba, part two. In the Argentine city, the national team lost 2: 3 at the World Cup against Austria in 1978.

In any case, a two -thirds majority is required for moving into the Council. This is currently 129 votes. You have to do something for that. Austria, for example, had not only traveled with the Federal President and Foreign Minister at the General Assembly this week, and Chancellor Christian Stocker also started the trip to New York despite sciatica pain.

And Germany? Was represented by the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Development. “We are a strong team”Johann Wadephul bravely claimed about himself and the colleague Reem Alabali-Radovan. The Chancellor remained in Berlin because of the budget debate – according to the official version. One reason should also have been that Friedrich Merz is already calling for the call, he likes to play the international stage and take too little attention to domestic politics and necessary reforms. However, it is also doubtful in diplomatic circles whether the waiver of the general assembly and the possibility of discussions with countless high-ranking heads of state and government were the right symbol at the right time.

WadePhul defends such allegations. “We have a good plan”says the minister. Not a week, but permanent commitment. Many states know “The reliable German commitment in the United Nations” appreciated. Therefore, he could also ask himself before inquiries “unspoil”.

For a long time, the Security Council surrounded a certain aura as a world government. The Federal Republic has been a non-independent member five times since 1977-and a few times there when history was actually written. In 2003, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer personally headed the meeting in which his US colleague Colin Powell presented evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq that later proved to be wrong. And in 2020, UN ambassador Christoph Heusgen opened openly with Russia and China in the dispute over humanitarian aid for Syria as chairman of the Security Council. After an arduous compromise, Heusgen gave the representatives of the two Veto powers the question, “Whether the people who have given the instructions to withdraw 500,000 children can still look in the mirror tomorrow”.

In the meantime, however, even bad compromises in the Security Council hardly appear possible. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, the diplomatic fronts have hardened massively: the Veto powers USA, France, Great Britain, Russia and China block each other. And in Middle East politics, the United States is firmly on the side of Israel-and often alone. What difference does it make, whether Germany is there as a non-and not, or not?

Gunter Pleuger, Germany’s constant representative at the United Nations for four years, supports the application. “It is shown that despite all the current problems you think the UN is indispensable and therefore want to take on a responsible role again”says the former diplomat. In the event of choice “you have a say for two years and can really do something for international cooperation”said Pleuger – sometimes that an undesirable agreement does not come about. Germany was involved in the first place when a resolution sought by British and Americans in 2003, which was supposed to legitimize the Iraq war under international law, failed the necessary majority of votes.

In the difficult current conditions, Christoph Heusgen also sees no reason to do without an application – on the contrary. “Even if the Security Council is blocked in the greatest conflicts, the task of a candidacy would be the admission that Germany is writing off the United Nations”warns the ex-diplomat, most recently chairman of the Munich Security Conference. In addition, the UN Security Council is “One of the few institutions, where there are still conversations between the otherwise hostile powers”.

Foreign Minister WadePhul and the diplomats of the Federal Foreign Office tried to promote Germany in the week of the General Assembly in countless talks with individual colleagues or states’ groups. In many states, Germany’s pro-Israeli attitude has caused more and more upset, the harder the Israeli government was doing in the Gaza strip.

The competitor Portugal was just right. At a conference on the two-state solution in the Middle East, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that Portugal is now recognizing a Palestinian state-and was cheered on by most representatives of the approximately 140 participant states.