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DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics

Inside Germany's big UN defeat

Jun 5, 2026 · 35 min · 11 segments

Germany just suffered one of its biggest diplomatic setbacks in decades: losing a UN Security Council seat it thought was practically guaranteed. In this episode of Berlin Briefing, host Nina Haase…

Germany just suffered one of its biggest diplomatic setbacks in decades: losing a UN Security Council seat it thought was practically guaranteed. In this episode of Berlin Briefing, host Nina Haase and her guests, DW's Max Hofmann and UN expert Myriel Marthez, take you inside the vote, inside the backroom diplomacy, and inside the reasons Germany’s campaign collapsed.

Germany just suffered one of its biggest diplomatic setbacks in decades: losing a UN Security Council seat it thought was practically guaranteed. In this episode of Berlin Briefing, host Nina Haase…

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Speakers: Muriel MartyGuestMax HofmannHostNina HaaseHost

Top entities: Germany×113 United Nations Security Council×27 United Nations×38 Max Hofmann×17 Nina Haase×12

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasCenterAudience≈6.4M followers

Shock Election Loss0:00 – 1:22

0:00

Welcome to Berlin Briefing.

0:01

Today, we're unpacking a diplomatic shockwave.

0:05

Germany, the UN's second-largest funder, a country that has served on the Security Council six times, lost its bid for another seat this week.

0:14

This is the diplomatic equivalent of Bayern Munich not making it into the Champions League, or if you're listening from North America, the New England Patriots missing the playoffs.

0:24

It just doesn't happen.

0:26

And to set the scene, let's take you straight to the General Assembly Hall on Wednesday.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:31

Number of votes obtained, Portugal 134.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:36

[cheering] Austria 131.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:45

[cheering] Germany 104.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

1:04

[clapping]

1:06

So Portugal got in, as did Austria.

1:09

Not so Germany.

1:11

We'll take you behind the scenes, and we'll explain why it happened, why it matters, what Israel, Russia, and the US have got to do with it, and what all of this means for the future of German foreign policy.

Read the full transcript.

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GermanyCountryCountry in Europe
99%113 mentions
United Nations Security CouncilOrganizationGovernmental body
97%27 mentions
United NationsOrganizationIntergovernmental organization
95%38 mentions
Max HofmannPersonGerman broadcaster
93%17 mentions
Nina HaasePerson
91%12 mentions
AustriaCountryCountry in Europe
89%13 mentions
IsraelCountryCountry in the Middle East
87%17 mentions
New England PatriotsSports TeamAmerican football team
85%3 mentions
United Nations General AssemblyCompany
83%6 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
81%11 mentions
UkraineCountryCountry in Europe
79%9 mentions
Permanent members of the United Nations Security CouncilEntity
77%2 mentions
PortugalCountryCountry
75%7 mentions
IranCountryCountry in the Middle East
74%3 mentions
Gaza CityEntityCity
72%8 mentions
Western EuropePlaceRegion
70%1 mention
European CouncilCompanyGoverning body
68%1 mention
PalestineCountry
66%3 mentions
sportEntityRadio format
64%1 mention
Annalena BaerbockPersonFormer President of the United Nations General Assembly
62%4 mentions
Peace Research Institute OsloEntityResearch institute in Oslo, Norway
60%2 mentions
BerlinCityCapital of Germany
58%3 mentions
DW-TVOrganizationTV network
56%1 mention
RussiaCountryCountry
54%15 mentions
MoscowCityCapital of Russia
51%1 mention
PortugueseLanguageSpoken language
51%1 mention
International Court of JusticeOrganizationCourt
48%2 mentions
FC Bayern MunichSports TeamFootball team
44%1 mention
North AmericaContinentContinent
44%1 mention
UEFA Champions LeagueSports OrganizationFootball competition
44%1 mention
Global North and Global SouthEntity
40%2 mentions
AustriansEntityEthnic group
38%1 mention
Helga SchmidPersonFormer Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service
36%2 mentions
United Nations Development ProgrammeCompany
34%2 mentions
New EnglandAdministrative AreaRegion in the United States of America
32%1 mention
EuropeContinentContinent
30%3 mentions
Tom BradyPersonAmerican American football player
28%1 mention
Board of PeaceOrganization
26%3 mentions
Donald TrumpPerson45th and 47th U.S. President
25%2 mentions
FranceCountryCountry in Europe
23%3 mentions
New YorkCityCity in New York State
21%2 mentions
ChinaCountryCountry in East Asia
18%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
18%1 mention
Middle EastAdministrative AreaRegion
15%1 mention
HamasOrganizationPolitical party
13%1 mention
South AfricaCountryCountry in Southern Africa
11%1 mention
Benjamin NetanyahuPersonPrime Minister of Israel
9%1 mention
European UnionAdministrative AreaSupranational political union
7%2 mentions
GermansEntityPeople
5%1 mention
JapanCountryCountry in East Asia
3%1 mention

United NationsPolitics > International Relations
Ukraine ConflictPolitics > Geopolitics > Russia
Security CouncilPolitics > International Relations > United Nations
AustriaPolitics > International Relations > Germany
UN ElectionsPolitics > Elections
DiplomacyPolitics > Foreign Policy > Germany
GermanyPolitics > International Relations
Foreign PolicyPolitics
GermanyPolitics > International Relations > United Nations > Security Council
GeopoliticsPolitics
International LawPolitics > Foreign Policy > Germany > Diplomacy
Voting ProcessPolitics > Elections > UN Elections
Germany's DefeatPolitics > Elections > UN Elections > Voting Process
International InfluencePolitics > Geopolitics > Russia > Ukraine Conflict
PortugalPolitics > International Relations > Germany > Austria
Politics
International RelationsPolitics
ElectionsPolitics
GermanyPolitics > Foreign Policy
RussiaPolitics > Geopolitics

Shock Election Loss0:00 – 1:22

0:00

Welcome to Berlin Briefing.

0:01

Today, we're unpacking a diplomatic shockwave.

0:05

Germany, the UN's second-largest funder, a country that has served on the Security Council six times, lost its bid for another seat this week.

0:14

This is the diplomatic equivalent of Bayern Munich not making it into the Champions League, or if you're listening from North America, the New England Patriots missing the playoffs.

0:24

It just doesn't happen.

0:26

And to set the scene, let's take you straight to the General Assembly Hall on Wednesday.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:31

Number of votes obtained, Portugal 134.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:36

[cheering] Austria 131.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:45

[cheering] Germany 104.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

1:04

[clapping]

1:06

So Portugal got in, as did Austria.

1:09

Not so Germany.

1:11

We'll take you behind the scenes, and we'll explain why it happened, why it matters, what Israel, Russia, and the US have got to do with it, and what all of this means for the future of German foreign policy.