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Shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East: Foreign Minister Wadephul on a mission to end the violence
Foreign Minister Wadephul with his Egypt counterpart Badr Abdelatty © Photothek Media Lab
The situation in the Middle East has further deteriorated as a result of the military strikes being traded between Israel and Iran. Foreign Minister Wadephul changed his original itinerary and travelled onwards to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman following his stop in Egypt.
Stop 1: Egypt
Straight after his meeting with his European counterparts in Italy, Foreign Minister Wadephul travelled to Egypt, the first stop on his Middle East trip. Egypt is an important partner which not only plays a key role as a neighbouring state of Israel with border crossings to Gaza, but is also mediating in the negotiations on the hostages and a ceasefire. During his first official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Foreign Minister Wadephul therefore focused on a joint search for solutions to the war in Gaza with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty.
On Thursday night, the tense situation in the Middle East then deteriorated further. Following targeted Israeli military strikes, aimed among other things at facilities belonging to the Iranian nuclear programme, Iran responded by launching hundreds of drones towards Israel.
Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement during his visit to Cairo:
Iran’s nuclear programme does not comply with the terms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. A broad majority of the Board of Governors of the IAEA has found this to be the case. Iran’s nuclear programme is a threat to the entire region, particularly the State of Israel. For us, it is therefore clear that Israel has the right to defend its existence and the safety and security of its citizens. You are nevertheless familiar with our fundamental position – we urgently call on all sides to refrain from taking steps that could lead to further escalation and destabilise the entire region. As before, Germany stands ready to make a contribution, in particular within the E3 with France and the United Kingdom and in close coordination with the United States of America.
In light of the current situation in the region, Foreign Minister Wadephul changed his original itinerary and travelled onwards to Saudi Arabia following his stop in Egypt.
Stop 2: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia too is threatened by the Iranian nuclear programme – not in the same way as Israel, which Iran has long had the goal of annihilating, but it was attacked on its own territory just a few years ago by Iran’s accomplices in Yemen and Iraq.
Talks with the Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan therefore focused on preventing further escalation in the region so that the conflict does not spread – and on how we can guarantee security for the entire region in the future.
Giving a statement in Riyadh, Foreign Minister Wadephul said:
I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear that we also feel for the people in Iran, who are just as much victims of the regime. They did not want this war and are not responsible for it.
Of course, Gaza must not be forgotten despite the current situation. We were in agreement that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is disastrous and not acceptable. A few days ago, at the UN General Assembly, we voted along with Saudi Arabia and a large part of the international community in favour of a resolution once again urging for a ceasefire. This ceasefire is more urgently needed than ever before.
Stop 3: Qatar
On the evening of Saturday, 14 June, Foreign Minister Wadephul travelled on from Riyadh to Qatar. The Gulf state has close ties to Iran. It is therefore important for Qatar to use its influence to move the regime in Tehran towards de-escalation. At the Foreign Minister’s meeting with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who serves in parallel as the country’s Prime Minister, the focus was also on the disastrous conditions in Gaza and the situation of the hostages. Neither can be allowed to fade into the background in light of the recent attacks between Iran and Israel. Hamas must release the hostages.
Stop 4: Oman
After Doha, the next stop was Muscat in Oman.
The country is a reliable partner trusted by many in the region. Only the Strait of Hormuz separates it from Iran; the shipping lane runs through Omani waters. As a neighbour of Yemen, Oman is also in contact with the Houthis, who have been repeatedly attacking Israel and endangering international shipping in the Red Sea. Oman has continually devoted itself to peace and diplomacy, and most recently has offered the US and Iran a secure and dependable format for their talks, although these are currently suspended.
Foreign Minister Wadephul and his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi were in agreement that, particularly in this critical situation, in which not diplomats but weapons hold sway, a mutual understanding is needed. The complex issues facing the region should be resolved not with violence but with diplomatic means.
In Oman, the Foreign Minister said:
I have heard from those I have spoken to here today in Oman, as well as yesterday from the Qatari Prime Minister and before that from Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, that everyone in the region has an interest in seeing a de-escalation of this conflict and a return to the negotiating table.
My message to Iran is therefore very clear – there must now be a full readiness on its part to renounce its nuclear programme and to make it clear that there is no programme for the development of ballistic missiles that could threaten Israel, and indeed Europe.
The opportunity is there, and I believe that in the coming days we can reach a point where negotiations are once again at the forefront of considerations. That is what I am working for, and I have found people here to be open to it, with many holding the attitude that it is possible and is in the interest of the entire region.