The UN Security Council

At the UN Headquarters in New York: The foreign ministers of Portugal, Austria, and Germany:
We are all good friends (©Der Spiegel)

Last Tuesday, Germany's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council failed spectacularly.

   

Annalena Baerbock is presiding over the UN General Assembly (©ZDF)

Nervously, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul is awaiting the result of the vote (©ZDF)

Annalena announces the result: Portugal 134, Austria 131, Germany 104 votes (©ZDF)

A mistaken soccer fan:
Damn UN. The World Cup hasn't even started yet, and we've already lost to Austria and Portugal.

Commentators were scrambling to find reasons for the "disaster":

- A classic excuse: The UN General Assembly punishes those who campaign too late and with too little intensity

- The European war: Russia is to blame because it stirred up sentiment over Germany's support for Ukraine

- Our special solidarity with Israel: Germany's "reason of state" due to our particular guilt to the Jewish people

- Germany's - or isn't it rather Europe's - wavering course in dealing with DonaldTrump's America

All of this culminated in one journalist's claim that the outcome of the vote, in which Austria and Portugal secured the two European seats on the Security Council, was a major embarrassment: "The vote in New York is a barometer of the Federal Republic's standing in the world. It has been damaged."

It would have been so nice to sit in the Council Chamber (©ZDF)

Soon, the German political landscape joined the chorus:

- Germany has squandered its reputation and responsibility in the world

- the failure to be elected is not a mere mishap, but a warning sign

- German foreign policy has become too closely tied to the disastrous and amoral policies of Netanyahu and Trump, or perhaps

- in the future, Germany must seek consensus within the European group in a timely manner so that we can avoid potentially competing bids for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council

All bullshit!

Instead, congratulations to Portugal, the still-young democracy, and the drifting-to-the-right Republic of Austria. They will represent "European values" well on the UN Security Council.

But what good is it to these two EU member states when the Council is a toothless tiger and has degenerated into a Schwatzbude (talking shop)?

Just to name the three largest unresolved flashpoints:

-Putin's Russia is mercilessly attacking Ukraine with no regard for civilian casualties. The country is fighting back with drone-based counterattacks on military targets and supply facilities (fuel depots), which the Russian government brands as Ukrainian terrorism.

-Netanyahu's Israel is committing war crimes with impunity in Gaza and, more recently, in southern Lebanon, although it is crystal clear that neither Hamas nor Hezbollah will ever disappear.

- Senseless fratricidal wars in Africa, waged by petty dictators for personal power, are leading to mass displacements in which entire populations are starving, and then the world is asked to spend money to end the misery of newborn children.

What good is the UN Security Council anymore?

Don't cry, Johann! (©Der Spiegel).

Johann commented on the vote, "I personally have nothing to reproach myself for. The result is a real disappointment and a bitter defeat. But we should not withdraw out* of disappointment, although my ability to persuade in Berlin will naturally not be enhanced by this result."
*After the US, Germany is the second-largest financial contributor to the UN 

Diplomatically well said.

**