Germany Wadephul in favor of radical reform of the UN Security Council
In view of frequent blockades in the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling for "sweeping reforms" of the most powerful body in the United Nations (UN).
02.01.2026, 04:56
SDA
"The Security Council must reflect the world of the 21st century and not that of the immediate post-war period after 1945," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency in Berlin. "That's why we will work very hard to ensure that the Global South in particular is given a much stronger role there."
Germany is running for one of the non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council in June 2026 for the years 2027/2028. The Council comprises 15 of the 193 UN member states. Five nuclear powers and victors of the Second World War are permanent members and have veto rights: the USA, China, Russia, Great Britain and France. Some of the other 188 member states take turns in the remaining ten seats every two years.
Indo-Pacific, Africa and Latin America come more into focus
When asked what he would do to ensure that Germany prevailed against Austria and Portugal in the election for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Wadephul said: "In football language, I would say: we must always be playable in every position for our international partners."
In view of climate change, for example, against the backdrop of the special situation in which small island states find themselves, "a climate foreign policy is being formulated together with them that addresses the special existential challenges of these states". He also wants to seek out and strengthen global partnerships in 2026. "After a strong commitment in Europe and Asia, this will now include the Indo-Pacific, Africa and Latin America," said the minister.
Wadephul on the UN: simplify and streamline some things
Wadephul said that the UN Security Council had also shown that it could work with its resolution to secure the Middle East peace plan. Nevertheless, the German government is of the opinion that the body needs a thorough reform. Some things could be simplified and streamlined. In principle, Germany is an advocate of the United Nations system and "will not withdraw as others have done", said the Minister, without naming the USA directly.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had supported calls for two permanent African seats on the Security Council on the fringes of an EU-Africa summit in Angola at the end of November. Europe and Africa together have more than 40 percent of all votes in the United Nations. "Together we carry a lot of weight. But to achieve this, Africa must also be better represented internationally, in line with the weight of this continent," he said.
