Fifteen of the 193 UN member states sit on the UN Security Council. Germany was competing with Austria and Portugal for two seats in the "Western Europe and Others" group.

Germany lost a vote on Wednesday for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. It needed a two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly to secure the seat for the next two years.

Portugal received 134 votes, Austria 131, while Germany garnered only 104 votes, placing third. Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were elected unopposed.

DW's Benjamin Alvarez Gruber noted that Germany is the second-largest contributor to the UN. Ahead of the vote, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany has a "good offer" and is ready to take responsibility on the important committee tasked with peacekeeping and international security.

Wadephul had advocated for reform of the UN Security Council to strengthen the role of Global South nations. Germany last served on the Security Council in 2019-2020.

The UN Security Council is the only UN body whose resolutions are legally binding. It consists of 15 members, with the US, UK, China, Russia, and France as permanent members holding veto power.

Source: www.dw.com