Are we living in an era where traditional diplomacy has little influence? Is the world moving towards a time when individual states increasingly use military force to assert their interests? If so, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful made a conscious effort this week to set a different tone. The German chief diplomat was unusually busy.
On Monday, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Subsequently, Wadful attended a conference at the German Foreign Office on energy security in Ukraine, which was also attended by representatives of the German Ministry of Economic Affairs. During more than four years of defending itself against Russia, Ukraine has learned to better protect its energy infrastructure against external attacks – something Germany could also learn from. Additionally, Wadeful met with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Jordan’s Prince Hussein bin Abdullah.
Merz says he has become ‘disillusioned’ during war
In late April in Berlin, after nearly two months of war between the US, Israel and Iran, after a closed-door meeting of his party, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “confused” by US and Israel’s actions against Iran. He said there has been no quick solution, as initially hoped by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Merz said, “So we want to continue our European diplomatic efforts to find a solution. We are coordinating closely with the American side, but we also have our own European views on how the conflict can be resolved.”
For now, at any rate, this means that Germany is relying on diplomacy. The focus now is on talks with Gulf states, which have often been targeted by Iran, and which are concerned about the stalemated conflict and Russia’s support for Iran.
Working with Gulf countries to maintain rules-based world order
DW’s Berlin bureau chief Max Hoffmann has been tracking Wadeful’s efforts this week. “You can’t keep all the Gulf states together, but at its core, it’s about finding trustworthy partners,” he says. “The US is failing in its role as a partner and protector.
Through the war and its consequences, the US is threatening the security and economic models of many countries in the region. Moreover, the US strategy of acting as a mediator between Iran and the West has failed.” According to Hoffmann, this is why Germany is once again becoming an attractive partner for these countries – precisely because of its commitment to the rules-based order.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is a think tank directly linked to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. For Philip Dienstbier, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s regional program in the Jordanian capital Amman, the shift toward the Gulf countries is no surprise. “Even before the war with Iran, several high-ranking government officials, including Chancellor Merz and Economic Affairs Minister Catharina Reich, visited the Gulf countries to signal interest in long-term, strategic cooperation. This shows that the Gulf region was high on Germany’s agenda even before the war and its economic consequences,” Dienstbier told DW.
This week’s meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of the Southeast Asian emirate of Brunei also fits into this strategy, especially since the country currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The group of eleven Southeast Asian countries has been particularly badly hit by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Removing this blockade is also a matter of major concern for Germany. “At some point, the strait will reopen, and the Gulf states are also working on alternative transportation options,” Hoffman says. “And looking to the future, this sector could play a very important role in the production of green hydrogen for Germany.”
Germany is campaigning for a seat on the UN Security Council
The Foreign Minister’s active role as host will also benefit Germany’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The United Nations General Assembly will take its decision on June 3. In addition to Germany, Austria and Portugal are also applying for the European Group – the outcome is still uncertain. Therefore, every conversation with UN representatives can only be helpful.
This article was translated from German.