Germany's bid for UN council seat blocked by Russia
For years, Germany has been working to elevate its status within the United Nations. However, Russia has now sent a clear signal, and it is not in Berlin's favour.
Moscow has categorically rejected Germany's request for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
“If the UN Security Council were to be reformed, there would be countries that would never become permanent members, even if they aspired to,” said Russia’s UN representative, Vasily Nebenzya, on Russian state television.
Tensions between Berlin and Moscow
Discussions about reforming the Security Council have been ongoing at the UN for years. India and African countries, in particular, hope for a permanent seat in this body. However, the German government has also been striving for this for quite some time.
While Russia was once considered a potential supporter of such an arrangement, tensions between Moscow and the West have dramatically increased in recent years, especially after the outbreak of the war against Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin. Consequently, the chances of this happening are considered slim.
It's important to emphasize that each of the five permanent members—China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the USA—can use a veto to block the expansion.
