Berlin, January 2, 2026 – The Europe Today: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for far-reaching reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stressing that the body must better reflect contemporary global realities and overcome frequent decision-making deadlocks.
In an interview with the German news agency dpa, Wadephul said the Security Council should represent “the world of the 21st century and not that of the immediate post-war period after 1945.” Reiterating Germany’s long-standing position, he emphasized the need to grant a stronger role to countries of the Global South within the council.
“That is why we will work very hard to ensure that the Global South in particular is given a much stronger role there,” Wadephul was quoted as saying, according to media reports.
Germany is seeking election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027–28 term, with the vote scheduled to take place in June 2026.
The UN Security Council consists of 15 of the United Nations’ 193 member states. Five countries—the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France—are permanent members and hold veto power over all council resolutions. The remaining 10 non-permanent seats are allocated to other member states on a rotating basis for two-year terms.
Wadephul’s remarks come amid renewed international debate over reforming the Security Council to enhance its representativeness, effectiveness, and legitimacy in addressing global security challenges.
