Status: 09/24/2021 6:12 p.m.
Steinmeier was the first Federal President to address the UN for almost 40 years. He reminded the USA, China and Russia of their responsibility for the rest of the world. He also called for a smarter foreign policy.
In his speech to the UN assembly in New York, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recalled the great powers’ responsibility for the rest of the world. Germany also knows about its obligation. The Federal President addressed admonishing words to the USA, China and Russia, which are currently blocking each other in the UN Security Council. “The United Nations is not a value-neutral boxing ring of the world powers,” said Steinmeier according to the speech manuscript – and thus alluded to the differences between the superpowers.
“Peace Order in the Interest of All”
Steinmeier went on to say that the prerogatives of the great powers in the United Nations system are justified “only as long as they promote and maintain the international peace order in the interests of all – and do not ignore or undermine it in any self-interest”. Like many other countries around the world, Germany has long been calling for a reform of the UN Security Council, in which only five countries have a permanent seat and a right of veto (USA, Russia, China, France and Great Britain).
For the years 2027 and 2028, Steinmeier announced that Germany would reapply for temporary membership in the UN Security Council. In the longer term, Germany is aiming for a permanent seat on the most important UN body. So far, however, all efforts to expand the council have come to nothing.
“Germany knows about its responsibility”
With a view to the Bundestag elections on Sunday and the great global interest in the future course of the strongest EU economic power, Steinmeier had previously emphasized: Germany will continue to be heavily involved in foreign and European policy after the Bundestag elections. “At this time of political transition in my country, I would like to assure you that, even after this election, Germany will remain a country that is aware of its international responsibility and that it accepts it.”
Strong Europe
At the same time, the Federal President called for more German and European engagement. Germany is convinced that big, open questions about humanity can only be answered through “far more cooperation”. “We need a strong common foreign and security policy,” he emphasized with a view to Europe. He shares the French attitude. “Only a strong Europe can ask others to do their part for the international peace order.”
Only a strong Europe can also seek cooperation with China – and at the same time demand that China respect human rights and international law as well as the legitimate interests of its neighbors.
“The fall of Kabul is a turning point”
With regard to Afghanistan, the fall of the capital Kabul to the radical Islamic Taliban was a turning point, Steinmeier admitted. It was not possible to create a self-supporting political order in Afghanistan in 20 years. “My country also shares responsibility,” emphasized the Federal President. However, resignation is the wrong answer. In the moment of “geopolitical disillusionment”, foreign policy must rather become “more honest, smarter and stronger”. “We have to expand our toolkit – diplomatic, military, civil, humanitarian.” Europeans and also Germans should do more for their own security as well as peace and stability in their neighborhood and around the world.
Steinmeier supported the increase in German defense spending in recent years, but also said: “Future generations will not judge us by military strength today, but by whether we were able to solve problems and conflicts.” And that includes diplomacy. Steinmeier thus followed up on the speech given by US President Joe Biden, who on Tuesday, at the start of the UN general debate, proclaimed a new era of diplomacy after 20 years of military service in Afghanistan.
Transatlantic partnership important
Steinmeier explicitly mentioned Libya, Eastern Ukraine and the Middle East. He called on Iran to return to negotiations on the international nuclear deal as soon as possible. The Federal President acknowledged a strong transatlantic partnership and at the same time warned that one should not follow American withdrawal reflexes.
He also indirectly alluded to the American-French dispute over submarine deliveries for Australia. “No short-term benefit is worth the cracks in our transatlantic unity.”
Climate change: warning of “national egoisms”
With a view to climate change, Steinmeier warned against “national egoisms” and called for strong resolutions at the upcoming climate conference in Glasgow. “The gap between our ambitious goals and our concrete policies is still far too big. It is we who have to close this gap. And we have to do it now.”
The first and so far only speech by a Federal President before the UN General Assembly was given by Karl Carstens in 1983. It is normally the responsibility of the federal government to present the German positions to representatives of the 193 member states of the United Nations. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) renounced the appearance on the big world stage in the week before the federal election in favor of the head of state.