Germany has suffered a rare and embarrassing diplomatic setback after failing to secure a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
In voting at the UN General Assembly on June 3, Austria (131 votes) and Portugal (134 votes) comfortably won the two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), while Germany came a distant third with only 104 votes, well short of the required two-thirds majority.
This marks the first time in its history that Germany has failed in a bid for a non-permanent seat on the Council.
The country, which has served six previous terms (most recently 2019–2020), had lobbied hard for the position and positioned itself as a major contributor to international peace and security.
German officials, including Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, partly blamed the loss on Berlin’s strong support for Ukraine and Israel, which they said cost votes among countries in the Global South.
Some opposition voices described the result as an “embarrassing defeat” and criticised the government for starting its campaign too late and lacking fresh ideas.
The outcome is seen as a significant blow for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, which had hoped the seat would bolster Germany’s claim for a permanent UN Security Council seat in any future reform of the body.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the result as “a real disappointment” and a “bitter defeat.”
Chancellor Friedrich Merz tried to downplay the loss, stating: “We applied with conviction. We did not achieve our goal. This result does not alter the tasks we face at the United Nations. Germany remains a reliable pillar of the multilateral system.”
Merz had campaigned on restoring Germany’s international credibility and influence after what many saw as years of hesitant, reactive foreign policy under Olaf Scholz. Now he has been bested by Austria and Portugal.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called it an “embarrassment” that highlighted the government’s failure to restore Germany’s international standing.
Even coalition partners and centre-left voices described the outcome as a “debacle” and a worrying gauge of how Germany is perceived internationally.
Foreign policy spokesman of the Social Democrats (SPD) Adis Ahmetović called the result “a serious foreign policy setback” and “a warning signal”.
Die Linke Party leader Ines Schwerdtner described the loss as “a slap in the face for the so-called foreign policy chancellor Friedrich Merz”. She blamed it on Germany’s failure clearly to condemn violations of international law in key conflicts and for remaining silent on important global issues.
While the government is putting on a brave face and insisting it will continue to play an active international role, the result highlights the limits of Germany’s influence despite being the EU’s largest economy.
Germany remains one of the UN’s biggest financial backers.
For the 2026 regular budget, it contributes approximately €182 million (around 6.11 per cent of the total), making it the fourth-largest contributor after the United States, China, and Japan. Germany also pays significant amounts to peacekeeping operations and is traditionally one of the most reliable payers.
The newly elected members — Austria, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe — will take their seats on January 1, 2027.
Germany has failed to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) secured 104 votes in the General Assembly, falling 23 short of the required two-thirds majority. It is the first time Germany has missed out on a rotating seat. pic.twitter.com/Z7Zyxf7nAI— DW Politics (@dw_politics) June 3, 2026
