A diplomatic incident. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was kept waiting for half an hour on Wednesday for the plane that brought him to Qatar for a three-hour official visit. Despite the fact that the red carpet was rolled out, no official representative congratulated the German leader, notes Deutsche Welle.

The President of Germany was left waiting for 30 minutes at the door of the plane during an official visit to QatarPhoto: Bernd von Yutrchenko / DPA / Profimedia

Steinmeier was taken aback as he sat with his hands folded, his brows furrowed as he boarded the military plane that took him to Doha, followed by Qatari officials.

The red carpet was rolled out and a military honor guard was present at Hamad International Airport in Doha, but Steinmeier waited in the blazing sun for about 30 minutes before Sultan al-Muraichai, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, appeared.

On the stairs of the plane, only the German ambassador to Qatar, Lothar Freischlader, was waiting for Steinmeier.

Even embarrassed, Steinmeier left the airport in time for a scheduled meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

DW journalist Rozalia Romanets, who accompanied Steinmeier’s delegation, wondered after the diplomatic incident whether it was an organizational error or a deliberate move by the Arab country, after the Berlin leader spent time in Israel during a three-day trip to the Middle East. , followed by two nights in Oman and only three hours in the Gulf state.

In Germany, Doha’s influence on the war between Israel and Hamas is considered somewhat controversial, as Qatar is home to the political wing of Hamas.

This has led some to wonder if the apparent delay was a response to recent statements by German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock ahead of Al Thani’s recent visit to Berlin.

“We do not accept support for terrorism,” Burbok told public broadcaster ZDF at the time. “To put an end to this terrorism,” she added, “countries like Qatar have a special responsibility.”