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Vancouver, BC – written Friday, December 1, 2023 – Sometimes people like to tag me on Twitter, when they feel there is an interesting story to share with Germans in Canada. This is how I found out that the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was apparently ignored in Qatar and forced to wait in his plane, in the blazing sun, for at least 30 minutes while there on an official visit. Soon headlines around the world began to talk about this incident using words like diplomatic snubbing or the show of disrespect.
This then reminded me of the German President and his visit to Vancouver last April, where certain German organizations were snubbed by the German President. The lack of invitation for participation from entities like the German Canadian Business Association (GCBA) and Westcoast German News, a primary German media outlet covering local news on the west coast of Canada and the U.S. raised eyebrows and stirred discussions.
The absence of these organizations from the President’s tour not only conveyed a sense of exclusion but also highlighted potential communication gaps between the official delegation and vital representatives of the local German community. Such incidents underscore the importance of transparent communication and exclusivity in diplomatic engagements to foster positive relations between nations and their diaspora communities abroad.
In the recent incident, Qatar marked the final stop of President Steinmeier’s whirlwind tour of the region, encompassing visits to Israel and Oman. During his time in Israel, he engaged in discussions with President Isaac Herzog and met with relatives of hostages abducted in the Gaza Strip. The journey culminated in Qatar, where, despite everything being prepared, President Steinmeier waited on the tarmac or in the doorway of his plane for approximately 30 minutes. While not a severe diplomatic setback, the delay, whether due to an early flight or a lack of urgency on the part of officials, falls short of ideal diplomatic punctuality.
How should Germans feel about this “snub?” It is not the first time, as in 2022, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, altogether rejected a request by the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to visit Kyiv. Now that was a snub. I am still willing to give the Qatar officials the benefit of the doubt, as there could have been many reasons for the delay in arriving on the tarmac.
India TV News stated “A DW reporter speculated that either it was a mistake in planning or relations between Qatar and Germany took a slight turn for the worse after Steinmeier recently visited Israel for a three-day trip, followed by a two-day visit to Oman and only three hours in Doha. Qatar’s mediating influence in the Israel-Hamas war is seen as controversial to Germany as the country houses Hamas’ political wing.”
In the absence of concrete information, here are five speculative reasons why the German President may have been left waiting on the tarmac in Qatar for 30 minutes:
- Logistical Delays: Delays in diplomatic visits can occur due to logistical issues such as flight scheduling, ground transportation coordination, or security protocols. It’s possible that there were unforeseen challenges in the logistical arrangements for the President’s arrival.
- Protocol Adjustments: Diplomatic protocol can be intricate, and adjustments might be made based on the host country’s procedures or unexpected circumstances. It’s conceivable that adherence to certain protocols or adjustments in the sequence of events contributed to the delay.
- Communication Gap: Miscommunication or a breakdown in communication between the German delegation and the Qatari hosts could have led to a delay. If there were misunderstandings regarding the President’s schedule or arrival time, it might have resulted in the delay on the tarmac.
- Political Signaling: Diplomatic actions can sometimes be used to convey subtle political messages. The delay might have been intentional, serving as a form of diplomatic signaling or expressing a certain level of displeasure or disagreement between the two nations.
- Unforeseen Circumstances: External factors, such as weather conditions, security concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances, could have played a role in the delay. Events beyond the control of both parties might have led to a temporary disruption in the scheduled reception.
According to the website of the “Bundes Präsident” (https://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Home/home_node.html;jsessionid=A2E062F0882837BFD64F77BD56662379.internet991) Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender were visiting the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Qatar from 27 to 29 November, 2023. The Federal President had political talks with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, in Muscat on 28 November.
After that, he traveled to Manah district, 20 km south of Nizwa, to visit the Oman Across the Ages Museum opened in spring 2023 as well as Nizwa Fort. At the end of his trip to Oman, he visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque on 29 November. The Federal President then traveled to Qatar on 29 November where he had political talks in Doha with the Emir of Qatar.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been involved in German politics for many years, holding various positions, including serving as the Foreign Minister of Germany before becoming President. As a member of the SPD, he adheres to the principles and values associated with social democracy. Like other Social Democrats, he advocates for a mixed economy, social justice, a strong welfare state, and the protection of individual rights.
You can learn more on this Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank-Walter_Steinmeier
Headlines about Steinmeier waiting on the tarmac in the blazing sun:
“Scheduling error or deliberate? Diplomatic snub?” .. The Times of India
“German President Desperately Waits to be welcomed by Qatari official” … Economic Times – they even mention a viral video!
“Germany’s President left waiting on tarmac in Qatar” … Doha News
“German president was left waiting on tarmac after touching down in Qatar” … Pakistan Defence
“German President left waiting at plane door in Qatar.” … Canberra Times
Why Do Presidents Travel So much?
Leaders, including heads of state or government officials like President Steinmeier, engage in international travel for various reasons, including:
- Diplomacy: Leaders often travel to participate in diplomatic missions, meetings, and negotiations with counterparts from other countries. These interactions are crucial for maintaining and strengthening diplomatic relations, addressing global issues, and fostering international cooperation.
“The Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) and the President (Frank-Walter Steinmeier) will meet to further advance joint efforts to build the resilience of our democracies, economies, and environment… They will work together on ways the two countries can fight climate change and build up clean energy resources, including through secure access to clean hydrogen and critical minerals and strong policies like pollution pricing. The leaders will also highlight our strong trade ties, which are growing our economies and creating good, middle-class jobs in both countries, as well as the close ties between our peoples.” (Prime Minister of Canada Website) - Representation: Leaders may represent their country at international events, conferences, and summits. This allows them to share their country’s perspectives, contribute to discussions on global challenges, and advocate for their nation’s interests.
“In October 2021, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, visited Germany on her first State Visit, where she led the official delegation under Canada’s “Guest of Honour” designation at the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair.” Quick Facts from PMO - Trade and Economic Relations: International trips are often undertaken to promote economic ties, explore trade opportunities, and encourage foreign investment. Leaders may participate in trade missions and business forums to enhance economic cooperation.
“Germany has a significant amount of foreign direct investment right here in British Columbia. Many German companies (are) operating here. There’s opportunity for increased German investment here in British Columbia.” According to Statistics Canada, Germany was Canada’s seventh largest source of foreign direct investment in 2021, totalling $31.9 billion.” (©Toronto Star) - Cultural and Educational Exchange: Traveling provides an opportunity for leaders to engage in cultural diplomacy, promoting understanding and cooperation between nations. They may also visit educational institutions and cultural sites to strengthen people-to-people ties.
“Canada and Germany benefit from their strong cultural connections and people-to-people ties. Almost 10 per cent of Canadians claim at least partial German ancestry and about 400,000 Canadians travel to Germany each year. A similar number of people travel from Germany to Canada each year.” Quick Facts from the office of the PMO - Humanitarian and Development Initiatives: Leaders may travel to witness and support humanitarian and development projects, showcasing their country’s commitment to global issues such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education.
“Every year, several thousand German students spend a term or full year at a Canadian college, university, or high school. Thousands more young Germans and Canadians travel in each direction for short-term study and research or work as part of the International Experience Canada program.“ Quick Facts from the office of the PMO
Back to the story involving President Steinmeier, who spent some time in Vancouver earlier this year.
According to the website of the Bundespräsident: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender traveled to Canada for an official visit from 23 to 27 April at the invitation of Governor General Mary Simon. With this trip to Ottawa, Vancouver and the Arctic, the Federal President paid tribute to the close partnership between Canada and Germany, as well as the cooperation between two liberal democracies, which are tackling the challenges of our time together: from security policy and resilience to the energy transition and climate change.
On 25 April, the Federal President traveled on to the port city of Vancouver on Canada’s West Coast to learn more about Canada’s Pacific orientation. To that end, he joined the Premier of British Columbia David Eby on a tour of the port and spoke to representatives of the local business community where Greater Vancouver Board of Trade CEO Bridgitte Anderson hosted a roundtable discussion. During a guided tour of a fuel cell manufacturer, Cellcentric and a visit to see smart energy systems at the University of British Columbia, visit the University of B.C.’s Smart Hydrogen Energy District — a soon-to-open hydrogen fuelling station, as well as the focus was on economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.
While the President was in Vancouver, two German organizations expressed their interest in joining him and his delegation on the tour. One of these organizations was the German Canadian Business Association (GCBA), representing the local business community. The other was Westcoast German News, the primary German media outlet covering local news on the west coast of Canada and the U.S., as well as the entirety of Canada. However, despite their keen interest, neither organization received an invitation, which could be perceived as a lack of acknowledgement and respect toward these entities.
The UBC Media Relations team reached out to local media and actually invited Westcoast German News, along with other local members of the media, who were then able to attend the final activity of the day: a visit to the Hydrogen Energy District and the UBC Faculty of Applied Science’s soon-to-open hydrogen research platform. The German President and 70 members of his delegation also spoke with researchers working on challenges relating to clean energy, digital manufacturing, quantum materials and smart energy storage.
However, no speeches were delivered by Steinmeier during his time at UBC, and media inquiries were not permitted. Interestingly, an individual, colloquially referred to as a “Shusher” (a combination of usher and someone who forcefully quiets people), was even employed to restrict direct access to the President. My primary objective was to capture a photograph with the President’s wife, who coincidentally shares my name, Elke. Unfortunately, whether due to indifference, disrespect, time constraints, or protocol restrictions, my wish went unfulfilled on this occasion.
I will end this article with a Final Statement by the Economic Times. If you click on the link below, you will also be able to see the viral video.
Synopsis