Germany is in the running for a seat on the Security Council when the UN General Assembly elects new members to the most powerful body within the United Nations on Wednesday. According to the UN Charter, the Security Council bears “the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

The council’s decisions are binding on all UN member states. It can impose sanctions, deploy peacekeeping missions and authorize the use of military force. The Security Council has five permanent veto-wielding members: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France.

“I would say the chances are good, but it’s a competition, and it’s democracy,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told DW during a visit to UN headquarters in New York in April. “So we can win. We can lose. Both is possible. We have good arguments. We engage in this world. We are engaged in the UN system. It (Germany) is the second largest donor. And we have some experience because we have for six times been already as a non-permanent member in the Security Council.”