German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier probably imagined his arrival in Doha (Qatar) differently. He stood there with the plane door open for almost half an hour.
The red carpet was rolled out, a guard of honor was ready and the German ambassador was already there to greet us – but the German president did not step out; and couldn’t figure it out.
Crossed arms, bitter look
Instead, Steinmeier temporarily stood with his arms crossed at the plane’s open entry door. The reason for this unusual waiting time initially remained unclear. Only after about 30 minutes did a representative of the host country – the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan al-Muraichi – finally show up.
“A lot of frowns on the catwalk”
The process perplexed even experienced foreign correspondents. “Extremely unusual at Doha airport. Federal President Steinmeier has to wait,” ARD Capital Studio correspondent Martin Schmidt wrote about X.
“Machine was very punctual. A lot of frowning on the catwalk,” Schmidt says of a clip showing the strange scene. “We are now at twenty minutes. “It’s getting more unusual,” he added in another post a short time later.
Important conversations about hostages in Gaza
One reason for the diplomatic misstep could be the plane’s arrival time. The delegation landed slightly earlier than planned in the official program. The Federal President then left in time for the meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Steinmeier especially wanted to talk to the emir about the release of the hostages kidnapped to the Gaza Strip by the Islamist Hamas. Qatar plays an important mediating role.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
