Germany Loses Non-Permanent UN Security Council Seat for First Time in Decades

Germany lost its non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, marking a notable diplomatic development during the UN General Assembly elections. Portugal and Austria won the two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group, while German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul acknowledged that Germany’s support for Israel and Ukraine contributed to the loss.

UN General Assembly President, German national Annalena Baerbock, announced Germany’s failure to secure the seat in the first round of voting, a rare defeat and the first since Germany’s initial membership in 1977-1978.

Berlin had traditionally secured the seat in the cycles 1977–1978, 1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2003–2004, 2011–2012, and 2019–2020, alongside the five permanent members of the Security Council: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France, according to the official German government website.

According to Politico magazine, this outcome represents an "insult" to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, as Germany had managed to win a Security Council seat every eight years for decades.

The UN General Assembly elected five non-permanent members to the Security Council for two-year terms beginning January 1, 2027.

Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul admitted on Wednesday that Germany’s support for Israel and Ukraine cost it votes in the election. Speaking to reporters in New York, he said, "We have always taken a clear stance on certain issues, and these positions are not shared by all member states," adding that "it is no secret" that Russia stirred anti-German sentiment.

Wadephul pointed out that rallying support for Ukraine and close ties with Israel were among the reasons for the loss, noting that Russia worked to turn public opinion against Germany’s candidacy. He said, "Russia does not want such a voice inside the Security Council."

He also mentioned that Germany’s special responsibility toward Israel in the context of the Middle East conflict cost it some votes, referring to Berlin’s support for Israel following the Holocaust during World War II. Wadephul confirmed that Germany will continue to uphold this responsibility, even while criticizing some Israeli government policies.

Non-permanent Security Council seats are usually elected by secret ballot in the UN General Assembly, requiring a two-thirds majority of voting member states, based on the UN’s geographic distribution system, according to the official Security Council website.

Portugal received 134 votes, Austria 131, and Germany 104, securing the two seats allocated to the group.

The election of Portugal and Austria was part of a broader vote that also included Zimbabwe, Kyrgyzstan, and Trinidad and Tobago as new non-permanent members.

Germany’s Diplomatic Position and Election Campaign

Wadephul stated that the German government sought to present Berlin as a leading voice in Europe on global issues, reiterating, "We have always taken clear positions on certain issues, and these positions are not agreed upon by all UN members." He acknowledged that Austria and Portugal "competed fairly and well with us," according to Deutsche Welle.

Chancellor Merz posted on the platform X that Germany will remain a reliable supporter of the international order and congratulated Austria and Portugal. He added, "We put forward our candidacy with conviction, but we did not achieve our goal. This result does not change the tasks assigned to us at the United Nations. Germany will remain a reliable pillar of the multilateral system."

Austrian diplomats believe their country’s neutrality and non-membership in NATO gave them an advantage with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The defeat to Austria is expected to not only represent a diplomatic setback but also to increase internal criticism of Chancellor Merz’s government, which already faces declining popularity and a weakened political position. Merz had campaigned on restoring Germany’s leading role in Europe, according to Politico.

Portugal’s victory was attributed to its strong ties with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, making it the frontrunner before the vote.

Analysts’ Views on Germany’s Loss

Ulrich Brokner, a professor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin, told Al-Sharq that Germany’s pro-Israel stance might be a significant explanation for the outcome. He considered Germany’s support for Ukraine "far less controversial" than its support for Israel, noting that Austria and Portugal also fully support Kyiv.

Brokner viewed Foreign Minister Wadephul’s comments as an attempt to assign political meaning to the vote results. He noted that supporters of Merz’s government do not see the loss as a full "defeat" since Germany does not hold a permanent Security Council seat, and the vote was for a temporary seat allocated to a regional group with multiple candidates.

He downplayed the impact of losing the seat, stating, "I do not see practically what Germany could have achieved by holding a non-permanent seat... It would have only given it symbolic status and a better diplomatic image."

Geneva Center for Studies researcher Evald Konig told Al-Sharq that Germany must accept it has been and remains excessively biased on the Israeli issue and has made mistakes in its foreign policy.

German and Austrian leaders openly acknowledged the difficulty of their competition, according to Politico.

Last week, Wadephul traveled to New York to rally support for Germany’s candidacy. Shortly after arriving, he said, "When it comes to global crises, Germany wants to exert influence. This is entirely appropriate for the world’s third-largest economy."

Since Friday, Wadephul met with about 80 ministers and UN ambassadors, according to sources familiar with his efforts.

It is unclear what incentives were offered during these efforts, but diplomats often exchange votes by promising future support in return for current backing, the magazine reported.

Wadephul also employed soft power tactics, hosting a large reception at the UN plaza on Monday night featuring a jazz band, German sausages, and an ice cream stand.

In contrast, Austrian diplomats highlighted their country’s relatively small size. An Austrian diplomat, speaking anonymously to Politico, said, "As a small, non-aligned, and militarily neutral country, we can play a very special role: because it is not about the rights of major political powers, but about balancing rights among all countries."

Both Austrian Chancellor Christian Stucker and Foreign Minister Biathe Meinl-Reisinger "did everything they could" to win the competition, according to the Austrian diplomat.

Austria’s UN ambassador, Gregor Kosler, told the Austrian newspaper Die Presse that "difficult things happened behind the scenes." He added before the vote, "People tried to change votes and attract supporters. Especially when you are in a catch-up position, you might try to push a bit harder to cancel existing agreements."

Domestic Reactions and Migration Policy Context

The German opposition Green Party blamed the government for the "embarrassing defeat," citing a lack of modern ideas behind the campaign. Agneska Broger, deputy head of the party’s parliamentary group, said the government "did not make enough effort last year to support this candidacy with modern ideas."

On Tuesday, the German Interior Ministry and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees announced that Germany temporarily suspended accepting additional refugees through the UNHCR resettlement program.

Migration has long been a contentious issue during coalition government negotiations between the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union bloc and the Social Democratic Party.

Conservatives advocate a stricter approach toward asylum seekers amid rising support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party and incidents of violence linked to refugees.

According to a document seen by Reuters, the coalition talks have tentatively agreed to end voluntary federal refugee admission programs whenever possible and to avoid launching new programs.

Germany plans to provide up to 6,560 places within the EU resettlement program this year, which typically accepts refugees from various nationalities or stateless individuals.

Last year, the German government imposed temporary controls on all land borders, describing the move as an effort to combat illegal migration and protect citizens from threats.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said, "We are working to strengthen internal security and continue to implement our strong plan to address illegal migration."

Germany has tightened its stance on migration in recent years, striving to regain initiative after increased support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party due to this issue.