Heiko Maas, the Germany’s Foreign Minister to visit UN-New York in bid to lobby for the Security Council seat for 2019 and 2020. A UN vote will be held on June 8.
Maas will try to convince UN member states of Germany’s credentials for the seat at the UN Security Council.
In his inaugural visit to the UN in New York, Maas is expected to join discussions on peacekeeping missions as well as meeting with UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. He will also meet UN ambassadors from several countries on Wednesday night where he will highlight Germany’s credentials for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
Germany is the fourth largest contributor to the UN budget and second largest provider of humanitarian and development aid. Its military is also one of the largest Western contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, including in Mali.
The 15-seat UN Security Council consists of five veto wielding permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK and United States – and 10 non-permanent members. Non-permanent members serve two year terms and are elected by the UN General Assembly.
Germany is determined to have the seat. It has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council eight times. It last had a seat in 2011-12.
Five non-permanent Security Council seats will be up for grabs in the UN General Assembly election on June 8.
