German president desperately waits to be welcomed by Qatari official in Doha airport, stranded on tarmac for 30 minutes; watch viral video
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's recent visit to Qatar was marked by an unexpected diplomatic incident that garnered significant attention. Upon his arrival, President Steinmeier was left waiting on the tarmac for nearly 30 minutes, a delay that sparked speculation and raised eyebrows.
The incident, which unfolded as President Steinmeier stood at the door of his Airbus A350 with folded arms, was captured in a viral video that circulated widely. Despite the presence of the red carpet, a military honor guard, and Germany's ambassador to Qatar, no Qatari official was initially on hand to formally welcome the distinguished visitor.
A report by German news broadcaster DW cited the delay as being due to the absence of Qatari officials at the airport to greet President Steinmeier. However, both German and Qatari officials have refrained from commenting on the delay, leaving the exact cause open to interpretation.
Delay attributed to absence of Qatari officials
The delay, attributed to the absence of Qatari officials, was eventually resolved when Sultan al-Muraichai, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, arrived to receive President Steinmeier. Subsequently, the President managed to depart the airport on time for his scheduled meeting with Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
President Steinmeier's visit to Qatar followed his stops in Israel and Oman as part of a three-country Middle East tour. During his brief stay in Qatar, the President focused on discussions regarding the release of German hostages held by Hamas, expressing confidence in Qatar's efforts to contribute to their release.
Incident raises questions
The unusual diplomatic episode, while brief, captured the public's interest and
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