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Germany misses out on UN Security Council seat for first time since reunification
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Elections & Politics

Germany misses out on UN Security Council seat for first time since reunification

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Germany failed to secure a seat on the UN Security Council for the first time since its reunification.
  • Portugal and Austria were elected as non-permanent members for a two-year term starting January 1, 2026.
  • German officials expressed disappointment, citing Russian opposition due to Germany's support for Ukraine, but vowed to remain a pillar of the multilateral system.

Germany has unexpectedly failed to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council, marking the first time since its reunification that the country has not been elected to the powerful body. Portugal secured 134 votes and Austria received 131 votes in the first round of balloting, comfortably winning the two available non-permanent seats for a term beginning January 1, 2026.

The goal was not achieved, but Germany will continue to be a reliable pillar of the multilateral system.

โ€” Friedrich MerzCommenting on Germany's failure to secure a seat on the UN Security Council.

Germany, with 104 votes, fell short, leading to expressions of disappointment from German officials. Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that the "goal was not achieved" but affirmed Germany's continued commitment to being a "reliable pillar of the multilateral system." Jรถrg Wadephul, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, who had been actively campaigning in New York, described the outcome as a "real disappointment."

Wadephul suggested that opposition from Russia played a role in Germany's unsuccessful bid, attributing it to Berlin's strong support for Ukraine. Germany, a significant financial contributor to the UN, has historically sought and secured non-permanent seats on the Security Council at regular intervals since its reunification, having served six previous terms, most recently in 2019-2020.

real disappointment

โ€” Jรถrg WadephulDescribing his reaction to the election results.

The Security Council comprises 15 members: five permanent members with veto power (the United States, Britain, France, China, and Russia) and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. Alongside Portugal and Austria, Zimbabwe, Trinidad and Tobago, and Kyrgyzstan were also elected to new terms. The newly elected members will join the five countries serving the 2026-2027 term: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Latvia, Colombia, and Bahrain.

Germany will continue to fight for peace and security and for a functioning United Nations, even without being a member of the Security Council.

โ€” Jรถrg WadephulStating Germany's continued commitment to UN principles despite the election setback.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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