50 years ago, the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR were admitted to the UN at the same time. Germany is now so established there that it is demanding a permanent seat on the Security Council. But the goal remains a long way off.
“We have the pleasure of welcoming the Bahamas, the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR.” In September 1973, Secretary General Kurt Waldheim welcomed the two Germanys as UN member states to the General Assembly.
“A new chapter”
Waldheim emphasized the historical significance of this day, almost 34 years after the German Wehrmacht’s invasion of Poland, which marked the beginning of the Second World War and thus led to the creation of the United Nations: “This accession ends a special chapter in world history, but “It also opens a new chapter, a chapter in which these nations will work for the interests of all humanity within the framework of the United Nations.”
Until reunification, two German delegations will be sitting in the halls of the UN. Neither of the two German states could have joined on their own. The GDR tried to do this in 1966 in its pursuit of international recognition of its sovereignty, but failed in the Security Council due to the veto of the Western powers. An application for membership by the Federal Republic of Germany would have failed because of the Russian veto. The East-West conflict on the open stage, smoothed over by the simultaneous accession of the two Germanys on September 18, 1973.
German UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse says Germany is valued as a “pillar of multilateralism” in the UN.
“Pillar of the multilateralism”
50 years after the enemy of old was admitted to the General Assembly, German UN Ambassador Antje Leendertse sees these decades as a success story: “We have a very good reputation in the United Nations and we are valued as a pillar of multilateralism .” Precisely because of its history, Germany relies on international diplomacy.
Peace measures and human rights are at the top of the German agenda. The issue of climate is just as important as the rights of women and girls. And: Germany is a powerful contributor to the UN. However, Leendertse emphasizes that it is not simply about being the second largest donor. Rather, it means investing in innovative approaches such as UN reform.
Expansion of the Security Council
It remains a core concern. Together with Brazil, India and Japan, Germany is committed to ensuring that the often deadlocked Security Council is adapted to the geopolitical realities of the 21st century through expansion. The populous country of India is just as permanent a part of this as African countries.
And Germany itself also wants to have a permanent seat. The Federal Republic has already sat as a rotating member of the Security Council four times. The member state has become increasingly mature – especially through two landmarks, says Leendertse.
Step towards bigger Independence
This includes the decision on the Iraq War in 2003. When it came to the question of whether the Security Council should grant a mandate for US intervention, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sided with permanent Security Council member France against it. It was a step towards greater independence.
“And we abstained from speaking about Libya when it came to the overthrow of Ghaddafi,” recalls the German ambassador – the first woman in this role. “These were both decisions that we did not make lightly, that we made based on our convictions.” But there were also exceptions because Germany did not vote together with its traditional allies.
“Don’t let China and Russia fool you”
Even as a member of the Security Council in 2019/20, Germany left a very good and active impression, says Richard Gowan. The UN observer from the Crisis Group think tank believes that Germany’s importance at the UN is only growing over time.
Christoph Heusgen, then German ambassador to the UN, previously advisor to the Chancellor and now head of the Munich Security Conference, made similar statements. “I believe that we have definitely led to some movement in these two years that we have been on the Security Council,” explained Heusgen in 2021. “What must not stop is that we, who stand for international humanitarian law and human rights come forward, bring these issues back to the agenda here again and again – and that we don’t allow ourselves to be bullied by China and Russia, who are opposing it.”
“At eye level with the Global South confront”
20 years after Germany’s negative stance on the Iraq war, a Green foreign minister earned respect at the UN headquarters in New York. Annalena Baerbock impressed many with her first speech to the general assembly. She appealed for the world to face the Global South on an equal footing:
Some of my colleagues say: Now you are calling for solidarity for Europe. But where were you for us in the past? I want to be honest with you: We hear you. And I really believe that we should always be prepared to critically examine our own actions in the past. I’m ready for this.
After the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the German Foreign Minister’s work to persuade countries in the Global South is helping to ensure that the international community overwhelmingly condemns Russian aggression as a violation of the UN Charter.
Seat on the Security Council realistic?
At the general debate last year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz renewed Germany’s application for a permanent seat on the Security Council. Leendertse says she hears from many countries that they are open to this. But negotiations on reform have not progressed for a long time – on the contrary.
UN observer Gowan is skeptical. “I think deep in their hearts many German diplomats who are committed to this reform of the Security Council also know that this goal will never be achieved,” he says ARD studio New York. Any reform of the UN Charter must also be supported by the permanent members China and Russia. It is very difficult to imagine that Moscow would agree to a permanent seat for Berlin in this incredibly tense phase in Europe.
Germany’s highest-ranking UN diplomat, the head of the UNDP development program, Achim Steiner, is more optimistic: He believes that all that is needed is perseverance.