A motorcade weaves through New York traffic as sirens and horns cut through the morning. With minutes to spare, Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, steps into the United Nations and delivers a brisk three-minute address to the Security Council on maritime security, the fallout from conflict in Iran and the dangers of a closed Strait of Hormuz. Afterwards he is shown to a seat in the rows beside the council’s horseshoe table — a reminder that Germany is not currently one of the Council’s members.
Wadephul is in New York to court votes for a non-permanent Security Council seat for 2027–28. Germany, counting former West Germany, has served as a non-permanent member six times (the former East Germany once). The Council’s five permanent powers — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — retain veto rights.
Speaking to reporters, Wadephul struck a cautiously optimistic tone. He framed Germany’s bid as part of its long-standing engagement with the UN, while acknowledging the contest’s uncertainty and the competitive, democratic nature of the vote.
Ten non-permanent seats circulate on the Council; five of them will be decided in a June election. To win a seat a candidate needs two-thirds of the 193 UN member states voting in a secret ballot. Campaigning is intricate, driven by regional deals, diplomatic trade-offs and late entry can be a handicap. Germany declared its candidacy after the Western European and Others Group had already backed Austria and Portugal, meaning Berlin must now look beyond its usual allies for support.
Wadephul has concentrated outreach on the African group, the UN’s largest voting bloc with 54 members. During a 29-hour trip he scheduled several bilateral meetings, including talks with the African Union’s mission, stressing Germany’s role as a major donor but framing his appeal around experience, attentive diplomacy and a willingness to listen to other regions.
Berlin has also indicated support for the African Union’s push to add two permanent Security Council seats — a position that could win goodwill among some African delegations and is tied to broader debates about UN reform. Several AU representatives have signalled confidence in Germany’s campaign.
But the exercise also raises a larger question: how much influence does the UN still wield amid growing geopolitical strain? Wadephul conceded the system is under pressure, yet argued diplomacy remains essential to avoid a descent into power politics. With active wars in Ukraine, Sudan and parts of the Middle East, many at the UN are hoping the post-World War II rules-based order can be strengthened.
Germany is quietly positioning itself as a potential advocate for that revival — and a seat on the Security Council would be its most visible platform to do so.