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In secret balloting held on Wednesday, Portugal received 134 votes and Austria 131, comfortably ahead of Germany, which secured 104 votes.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the UN General Assembly on June 3, 2026. (AFP photo)
Germany has failed to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time, after losing out in a General Assembly vote that saw Portugal and Austria elected to represent the Western European and Others Group for the 2027–2028 term.
In secret balloting held on Wednesday, Portugal received 134 votes and Austria 131, comfortably ahead of Germany, which secured 104 votes. The result marks a rare diplomatic setback for Berlin, a country that has already served six terms on the powerful 15-member body.
Germany’s defeat also comes despite its status as Europe’s largest economy and a key political and security actor within the European Union. The elected countries will take up their seats from January 1, 2027, replacing Pakistan, Somalia, Greece, Denmark and Panama.
Minister cites Russia, Israel positions
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the outcome reflected geopolitical tensions and differing foreign policy positions among UN member states.
He pointed to what he described as Russia’s active opposition to Germany’s candidacy due to Berlin’s strong support for Ukraine. “It is no secret that Russia does not want such a voice at the table and campaigned against us,” he said.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on why Germany lost UN seat:There’s our rock-solid support for Ukraine. It is no secret that Russia does not want such a voice at the table — and campaigned against us.
It also may have cost us votes that Germany must always assume a… pic.twitter.com/80oFDEbA77
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 3, 2026
However, Wadephul also acknowledged that Germany’s position on the Middle East may have influenced the vote outcome. “The fact that Germany must always assume a special responsibility for Israel in the Middle East conflict may also have cost votes,” he said, referring to Berlin’s historical responsibility linked to the Holocaust.
Debate over Israel stance
The result has triggered wider debate among analysts over whether Germany’s foreign policy choices, particularly its strong support for Israel during the Gaza war, contributed to its defeat.
According to analyst Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Germany’s Ukraine policy was not a decisive factor. “Portugal and Austria – who beat Germany – are no less supportive of Ukraine,” he said, adding that the result was linked instead to Berlin’s position on Israel and Gaza, Al Jazeera English reported.
He argued that Germany’s stance had alienated some UN members due to its alignment with Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and its approach to international legal questions surrounding the war.
Former UN human rights official Craig Mokhiber also linked the vote outcome to Germany’s positions on Israel and Palestine, calling the result “a rare moment of justice” at the General Assembly.
“Germany’s scandalous support for genocide in Palestine and aggression against Iran, and its repression of human rights defenders inside Germany, were all on display as the body handed Germany this unprecedented loss,” Mokhiber said.
The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms on a regional rotation system.
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