German media: "The Five" remain in the Security Council, Germany again calls for reform

As the strongest institution of the United Nations, the Security Council has long been hindered by power struggles among permanent members the US, Russia, and China, making the body almost incapable of passing real resolutions. In June this year, Germany once again competed for a two-year non-permanent seat on the Security Council and once again emphasized the urgency of Security Council reform.

Due to the frequent "mutual veto" stalemates in the UN Security Council, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for a "comprehensive reform" of this most powerful UN body. The CDU politician told Deutsche Presse-Agentur in an interview in Berlin: "The Security Council must reflect the world order of the 21st century, not the situation at the beginning of the post-World War II era. Therefore, we will strongly work to give countries in the Global South a stronger role in the Security Council."

Germany will run for a two-year non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in June 2026. Of the 193 UN member states, 15 countries serve as Security Council members. Five of them are the victorious powers of World War II and nuclear powers with veto power: the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France. The remaining 10 non-permanent seats are rotated every two years among some of the other 188 member states.

When asked what measures would be taken to ensure Germany's success in competing against Austria and Portugal to win a non-permanent Security Council seat, Wadephul said: "In football terms, we must be ready to receive the ball at every position, that is, to respond to our international partners."

Germany supports small countries in the Southern Hemisphere

He cited the example of climate change, especially considering the special situation of small island nations, and said that Germany is working with these countries to develop a "climate diplomacy policy" to address the special survival challenges they face. He stated that in 2026, Germany will continue to seek and strengthen global partnerships. The minister said: "The next focus will include the Indo-Pacific region, Africa, and Latin America."

Previously, German Chancellor Merkel expressed support at the EU-Africa Summit in Angola for adding two more permanent seats in the UN Security Council for African countries. He said: "Europe and Africa together have more than 40% of the UN member states, and we hold significant positions. Therefore, Africa should also have more opportunities to represent itself on the international stage."

Russia Sees Potential in African Cooperation

Germany is not the only country clearly expressing a desire to strengthen cooperation with African countries. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov announced last year the start of negotiations for the 2026-2029 Russia-Africa Cooperation Action Plan.

Lavrov said: "Russia has always been a reliable partner for African countries in strengthening their national sovereignty, whether in the political, security fields, or other dimensions. We are committed to further tapping into the huge potential that already exists in our practical cooperation."

The Russia-Africa Summit was first held in Russia in 2019 and was held again in 2023, after which its influence has continued to grow. At that summit, President Putin sought support from African leaders and tried to break the political and economic isolation imposed on Russia by Western countries due to the Ukraine war. The summit will be held again in 2026.

Source: DW

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853258061158601/

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