It occasionally happens to a Foreign Minister such as myself that he has just landed back in Berlin. I have just come from the UN General Assembly and will be returning there again today, because that is where 193 countries are meeting to discuss the major conflicts around this world this week. This is about peace and security, about managing global crises and, of course, about responsibility.

It’s something of a paradox that, on the one hand, many countries don’t respect the values and the very substance of the United Nations Charter, in some cases even trampling them underfoot, and that others – including those from the so-called Western world – unfortunately withdraw from their responsibilities at international level. But, on the other hand, in the end, everyone is keen to be in New York now, to have the floor, to enter into discussions. That’s why it’s the right place also for the Federal Government to be. My colleague Reem Alabali Radovan and I were there in recent days, and we will continue to represent the Federal Government in New York.

We talked about the situation in Gaza, about the hostages who have been enduring inhumane conditions there for 719 days now, about the hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza who are starving. I called this “hell on Earth”. The situation there is truly unbearable. We talked about the two-state solution, which, in the view of the Federal Government, is the only way to achieve peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians in peace, freedom and dignity.

We’re working on this and are holding in-depth discussions about this issue this week. I’m glad that we have a very large number of forums where we can speak to the point with the Israeli side. Germany stands, of course, always by Israel’s side, in a spirit of friendship and with a great sense of duty towards Israel. But we’re also talking to the Palestinians, to the Arab world, to help ensure that this conflict is finally brought to an end, that we bring about the release of the hostages and that the suffering of the people in Gaza also ceases at long last. The international community cannot simply continue to stand by and watch.

We have also held very intensive talks with Iran, which, unfortunately, has disregarded its obligations under the JCPoA for many years. We have drawn the necessary conclusions within the E3 framework – that is, the United Kingdom, the Republic of France and the Federal Republic of Germany – and have triggered what is known as the snap-back mechanism so that international sanctions can be reintroduced towards the end of this week.

It’s clear to us that Iran must not be allowed to get its hands on nuclear weapons, ladies and gentlemen.

We owe this to Israel, we owe this to ourselves and we owe this, incidentally, also to the entire Gulf region. After all, it goes without saying that if Iran has nuclear weapons, then we will have a disastrous arms race on our hands, and then there will be a nuclear arms race in the Gulf region. And we want, after all, to work – this is my understanding of Germany’s obligation – to ensure that there are fewer nuclear weapons in the world and not more.

So Iran has to be aware that we have a clear position and that we will now put in place a sanctions regime. This doesn’t mean that we cannot negotiate again after that. It isn’t the end of diplomacy. And – I say this as a matter of principle – there must never be an end to the negotiations, but we must always be open to new negotiations. Germany will also be willing and able to do this.

I spoke in the UN Security Council this week about the situation in Estonia, where Russian fighter jets – not drones, but fighter jets this time – flew for 12 minutes. This is an unacceptable violation of Estonia’s airspace and therefore of NATO territory. We have to show a clear response to this. We did so politically, and we also did so in the North Atlantic Council. This isn’t the first time, but, as already discussed, it has also happened in Poland and Romania.

Russia must know without a doubt that we will defend every inch of NATO territory, together and in a spirit of solidarity. We stand by the Estonians; we stand by the Baltic states; we stand by Poland, Romania and all our Eastern European neighbours, esteemed colleagues.

In New York, we’re not only talking about crises that dominate the headlines every day, but also about crises that aren’t as present in our minds as perhaps they should be. I’m referring to the Sudan, for example, which has already been discussed here on other occasions – a country that is currently undergoing the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time. Thirty million people are reliant on humanitarian assistance there and 12 million people have fled their homes.

That is why we have extended the UNMISS mandate so that the UN peacekeeping troops can support the Sudan from neighbouring South Sudan. I have called for us to engage. I firmly believe that crises and conflicts that we ignore, that we pretend do not affect us, will come to us sooner or later. That’s why we need to get involved on the ground.

I have therefore advocated for humanitarian assistance not to be regarded as some sort of charity. This isn’t, as some people have claimed, a luxury that we indulge in here and there; it’s about support for those enduring the very worst suffering, which we have an obligation to provide for humanitarian reasons – and I say this for myself personally: also for Christian reasons. But it is also in our fundamental security policy interests that we engage on the ground.

Because only if we get involved there will we prevent new wars and conflicts from arising, and refugee movements from occurring.

That is why it is in our fundamental interest for us to engage in the Sudan. And that is why, esteemed colleagues, since our parliamentary discussions are getting under way now, I’m calling for us to increase our humanitarian funds and for you to find strength and financial leeway for the future in these discussions.

At the end of the day, resources for foreign policy aren’t a luxury, but an investment in a world that must be more stable, more secure and more peaceful. I can assure you first-hand that we as Germans are being called on to do our part here. During many talks in New York right now, the Foreign Ministers of other countries are telling me how good it is that Germany is taking the lead! How good it is that Germany is living up to its leadership role in Europe! How good it is that Germany is assuming responsibility and isn’t withdrawing from the United Nations, as in certain areas, especially those to do with financial matters, the US is unfortunately doing.

We’re assuming responsibility and we believe in the United Nations system. We’re therefore applying for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027/2028, because we are convinced that we belong at this table. We’re prepared to assume responsibility for freedom, security and prosperity – not with missionary zeal, but with the firm belief that this is the right thing to do for a peaceful world.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.