The world knows it can rely on us,” said Guido Westerwelle in October, when Germany had secured its goal of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. A month earlier, he had assured UN delegates: “Germany is ready to assume global responsibility.” And so it seemed, as he flew to Tunis and Cairo to join in celebrations of the Arab world’s democratic spring.

But can the world rely on Germany when it counts? It has just refused to join the US, France, Britain and seven other Security Council members in endorsing a no-fly zone over Libya to stop Muammer Gaddafi’s slaughter of his citizens. Abstaining with Germany were Russia, China, Brazil and India. These are important trade partners, but a dubious group of bedfellows to seek out on an issue of war and peace – even without the uninvited fifth party, the Libyan dictator himself. Col Gaddafi, by way of thanks, opined that Berlin (rather than Paris) ought to have a permanent Security Council seat.

Germany’s abstention led to a public relations meltdown abroad and at home. Although Chancellor Angela Merkel firmly endorsed the decision, even her own conservative party’s foreign policy experts voiced disgust. Germany’s diplomats must now defend a position many of them are unhappy with.