Germany calls for 'sweeping reforms' to UN Security Council

Advocacy for greater Global South representation

In an interview with German press agency DPA on Friday, Wadephul stated, "The Security Council must reflect the world of the 21st century." He pledged that Germany would "work very hard to ensure that the Global South in particular is given a much stronger role there." The minister reaffirmed Germany's commitment to the UN system, contrasting it with what he implied was US disengagement.

Support for permanent African seats and European partnership

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously voiced support for two permanent African seats on the Council during an EU-Africa summit in November. He noted that Europe and Africa collectively hold over 40% of UN votes and argued that better African representation internationally would amplify their shared influence. Germany is itself campaigning for a non-permanent Security Council seat for the 2027-2028 term.

Broadening a long-standing international debate

The German push aligns with a broader, years-long debate on UN reform. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a prominent advocate for revising the Security Council's structure, famously coining the phrase "The world is bigger than five" to criticize the exclusive veto power held by the five permanent members (US, China, Russia, UK, France).