Surlic: Baerbock has strong political ambitions, will aim to reform the UN system

Stefan Surlic, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, commented on the election of former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as the President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He said that, on one hand, her role will be ceremonial and protocol-based in a normative sense, but on the other hand, Baerbock has strong political ambitions.

“Her voice will be influential if she has strong backing from Berlin, as her election revives a long-standing debate about Germany’s place in the UN Security Council, where it is not a permanent member. There has been talk about various models, about a rotational seat, or one for the European Union… While her role may be ceremonial, Baerbock will essentially seek to present herself as the voice of Germany and use her position to push for reform of the existing United Nations system,” Surlic told Kosovo Online.

He emphasizes that Baerbock is likely to push for the UN to abandon its platform of neutrality and its approach of urging all sides to compromise, and instead aim to portray the Russian side as the aggressor.

“Russia’s reaction is understandable, they were strongly opposed to her election and requested a secret vote, expecting that some countries would quietly vote against her. However, she still won,” Surlic added.

He notes that while UN procedures are very strict, Baerbock as the presiding officer will have the authority to set priorities, and in that context, it is likely she will also focus on the Balkans.

“If certain issues are framed as malign influences from Russia, China, or elsewhere, she will be particularly sensitive to the situation in the Balkans, not to mention Germany’s clear stance against Milorad Dodik and in support of preserving the institutions established in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I expect this will become a topic within the UN, and if any diplomatic initiatives arise, she will likely respond eagerly and make them a priority,” Surlic said.

He also points out that her nomination by Berlin was part of a broader political deal: the German government actively supported her candidacy because her party, the Greens, had backed a new government borrowing package.

In this context, Surlic said, German diplomacy was very active, even though the Greens are not part of the current ruling coalition in Berlin, to support Baerbock and effectively "reposition" her, knowing she would pursue a highly radical and aggressive political agenda.