Green foreign policy expert Boris Mijatovic warned German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) against jeopardizing Germany’s application for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council through careless statements just before the decision. Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Mijatovic expressed hope that the Chancellor would avoid making inappropriate comments, referencing past incidents.
The head of the Bundestag’s sub-committee on International Order, United Nations, and International Organizations expressed optimism about the potential success of Germany’s candidacy. For the two available seats in Western Europe within the highest UN body, Austria and Portugal are also running their own candidacies.
According to Mijatovic, Germany would be a strong representative with a deep interest in a functional United Nations. He stressed that the country should not merely focus on outward appearances but should strongly advocate for the respect of international law. The commitment to international law can be clearly traced from Germany’s own history, he noted. Furthermore, Mijatovic advised that the interests of smaller and medium-sized member states should also be considered. In his view, Germany is internationally regarded “as a reliable partner and honest mediator with considerable expertise”.
When asked what Germany offers as a non-permanent member, Mijatovic responded with a lighthearted jab: “We have the schnitzel passport”.
