Unpacking Germany's campaign for a UN Security Council seat

Published 7 June 2026 · politics

On Wednesday, the United Nations will hold elections for several seats on the UN Security Council. Germany's government is campaigning vigorously for a seat. Germany

On Wednesday, the United Nations will hold elections for several seats on the UN Security Council. Germany's government is campaigning vigorously for a seat. Germany is in the running for a seat on the Security Council when the UN General Assembly elects new members to the most powerful body within the United Nations on Wednesday. According to the UN Charter, the Security Council bears "the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security." The council's decisions are binding on all UN member states. It can impose sanctions, deploy peacekeeping missions and authorize the use of military force. The Security Council has five permanent veto-wielding members: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France. "I would say the chances are good, but it's a competition, and it's democracy," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told DW during a visit to UN headquarters in New York in April. "So we can win. We can lose. Both is possible. We have good arguments. We engage in this world. We are engaged in the UN system. It (Germany) is the second largest donor. And we have some experience because we have for six times been already as a non-permanent member in the Security Council." Germany is No. 2 contributor to UN On its website, the Foreign Ministry cites Germany's financial contributions to bolster its case: "As the second-largest contributor to the UN system, Germany has been a reliable partner to the UN for more than 50 years." Johannes Varwick, a professor of international relations at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, does not believe that success is guaranteed for Germany. "For decades, Germany was widely accepted as a driving force behind multilateral political solutions in many parts of the world. Now there are many divisive issues," he tells DW, citing the Israel-Gaza conflict, the Iran war and the Ukraine war as examples. Ultimately, Varwick said the financial argument could be the deciding factor. German foreign minister: UN General Assembly 'a vital forum' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany accused of double standards What does Germany seek to do with the seat?

In a short film titled "More than a Seat at the Table," which was produced specifically to campaign for Germany's bid, the message is: "We are ready to take a seat to stand up. For respect, justice and peace." On its website, the Foreign Ministry writes: "On the Security Council, Germany wants to focus on the issues of conflict prevention, crisis resolution, climate and security." Since these are goals that almost anyone would support, they can hardly be used as a unique selling point for Germany. Some aspects of the German bid sound like a counterpoint to US President Donald Trump's strongman policy, such as when the German Foreign Office calls for a "rules-based international order" and the validity of international law. "The UN system is under pressure," German Foreign Minister Wadephul told DW in New York. However, he continued, "I believe that diplomacy remains very important so that the law of the jungle does not prevail." He did not mention Donald Trump by name. According to Johannes Varwick, even Germany's insistence on international law has earned it criticism at the UN. Some accuse Germany of applying a double standard: "For example, by siding so firmly with Israel on the Gaza issue. I think almost everyone at the United Nations understands that Germany has different historical ties to Israel — there's no question about that." Varwick is referring here to the Holocaust, the murder of some six million Jews during the Nazi era in Germany. "But the fact that one stands so clearly on the side of the aggressor — as many perceive it — while at the same time holding high the banner of international law in Ukraine in a very dogmatic manner, somehow doesn't add up," he explains. What's behind Germany's special relationship with Israel? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Reform of Security Council seems hopeless German Foreign Minister Wadephul would like to restore the United Nations' role in international conflict resolution.