For the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, the country has failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The announcement came following a secret ballot held by the UN General Assembly on June 3.
Germany, Austria, and Portugal were competing for the two available seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). The voting results were as follows:
Portugal — 134 votes
Austria — 131 votes
Germany — 104 votes
A two-thirds majority was required for election. As a result, Portugal and Austria secured the seats for the 2027–2028 term.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the outcome as a “bitter defeat.” He partly attributed the failure to Berlin’s strong stance in support of Ukraine and Israel, which, in his view, cost Germany votes in the General Assembly.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed disappointment. The government noted that Germany launched its campaign for the seat relatively late, which may have contributed to the defeat. Nevertheless, officials in Berlin emphasized that the country will continue to uphold its historical responsibility, including its support for Israel.
Germany had previously been elected six times as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (most recently in 2019–2020). Until now, it had been considered one of the strongest candidates for such positions due to its status as the world’s third-largest economy, its role as one of the largest donors to the UN, and its influential position within both the EU and NATO.
The defeat came as a surprise to German diplomacy and is being viewed as a significant blow to the country’s international prestige.