Portugal and Austria defeated Germany for seats on the powerful but deeply divided UN Security Council on Wednesday after intense campaigning, the AP reports. Germany called it a "bitter defeat," saying the nation lost votes because of its support for Israel and Ukraine. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany will "stand by our historical responsibility" to Israel and continue its "unwavering support" of Ukraine, per Politico Europe. "It's no secret that Russia doesn't want such a voice at the Security Council table and has also stirred up sentiment against us," Wadephul said.
The 10 rotating seats on the 15-member Security Council are earmarked for different regions of the world. The assembly elects five countries by secret ballot every year to serve two-year terms alongside the council's five permanent veto-wielding members—the US, Russia, China, Britain, and France. In the other contested race, after four rounds of voting in the 193-member General Assembly, Kyrgyzstan defeated the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 and will join the council for the first time, per the AP. Zimbabwe, the African candidate, and Caribbean candidate Trinidad and Tobago had no opponents, and both were elected with more than 180 votes.
In the race for the two seats for the group of mainly Western nations, Portugal received 134 votes and Austria 131 votes, while Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, which had served six previous terms on the council, received 104 votes. Austria's foreign ministry said its election capped a 15-year campaign and is a "strong international sign of confidence" in the country. Its successful campaign touted Austria's mandated neutrality and lack of a NATO membership. The five new members will take up their seats on Jan. 1. They will replace Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.
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