German foreign policy should be even more active in reconciling Germany’s own interests with the views of its partners. This is in order to live up to Germany’s responsibility for improving the political and social situation on the one hand, and on the other hand to strengthen the position of the German economy, which is essentially dependent on international business. An article by Helene Rang.
Deutschlands wirt- schaftliche Beziehungen zu den arabischen Golfstaaten Katar, Saudi-Arabien und den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten sind ein wichtiger Pfeiler deutscher Außenpolitik.
In recent months, Germany’s relations with some Arab Gulf states – in particular Saudi Arabia and Qatar – have been the subject of media criticism. Germany’s arms supplies to Saudi Arabia have been criticised, and there have been various accusations intended to cast permanent doubts over Qatar as host of the 2022 World Cup.
These states – and the United Arab Emirates – have for years been reliable partners for German industry and are held in high regard in the entire Middle East region. Arms supplies to Saudi Arabia – which faced strong criticism in German media and from some German political circles – are always a major responsibility for industry and politicians alike.
There is justification for asking whether supplies should go to countries that do not correspond to our democratic system and whose regional environment is fragile – and whether this is sensible and there are sound political arguments for doing so. But it is precisely in such situations that it has proven to make very good sense not only to enter into strategic partnerships, but also to nurture them in order to bring about change by interacting in a spirit of partnership and trust.
Cancelling our arms supplies would result in countries such as Saudi Arabia turning to other partners. This would do nothing to change a situation in which countries are supplied with arms, but it would mean Germany losing its partner role that has been built up over a great number of years, as well as losing its influence to bring about desirable changes.
In this regard, the economic disadvantages that are not related to arms must not be underestimated. Our partners in the Gulf states could lose their trust in German industry overall. There would be adverse effects on economic relations in all sectors, resulting in considerable losses in turnover and permanent damage to our currently good reputation in the Gulf states. We would be giving up an advantage that has taken years to establish and we would lose political influence while failing to achieve any kind of change – because other countries would be all too happy to take our place and fill the gap.
It is worth highlighting in particular the current debate concerning Qatar. In view of the World Cup, this is currently an emotional debate in Germany, particularly with regard to the World Cup building sites. Many of these reports are clearly solely intended to generate negative press and are in some respects simply untrue.
There are individual examples of disastrous conditions on building sites all around the world, including in other countries in this region and also in Germany. But this affects a minority of workers, not the majority. These conditions have absolutely nothing to do with the World Cup. In my view, such exaggerations are simply intended to ensure that the World Cup is taken away from Qatar.
Football is an international sport that also serves to promote understanding between nations and the bringing together of various cultures and conditions. It would be untenable to exclude individual countries for reasons to do with the climate. It would also be irresponsible to prefer to leave as they are conditions that need to be changed than to change them through an international sporting event; this includes, for example, the method of sponsoring workers that is common in the entire region (the kafala system) and that will now be improved thanks to the World Cup. As a rule, corruption is unacceptable – but this also applies to all decisions taken by other countries involved in this context.
Equally, this debate should not be limited to the World Cup and the host country, it should apply to similar conditions worldwide. Why the focus on Qatar? It was not until the 1990s that the real economic upswing began in Qatar. This means that Qatar has only recently been through development processes that bring with them huge cultural change. Qatar is having to renew its consciousness on a daily basis.
In my view, Germany should flank this development in a particularly strong sense of partnership and we should support and promote such a fundamental transformation process that has come about as a result of sudden prosperity. It is never helpful to simply point the finger of blame; instead, an intensive partnership with countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and also the United Arab Emirates is the only way to achieve political change.
Good economic relations are especially useful if we want – in a diplomatic and respectful way and on an equal footing with Qatar and Saudi Arabia – to bring up valid issues, agree on regional and international solutions and use economic cooperation to promote political proximity and a willingness to implement reform.
Outright criticism is seen as a rejection and a cultural, imperialist affront, whereas an open, respectful dialogue is valued and tolerated. The United Arab Emirates also has an important role to play here. The country has recovered economically from the financial crisis of 2009 and now offers attractive business prospects for German companies. Moreover, the country has close economic and political relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran and could therefore also help, in cooperation with the international community, to bring about a détente between the rival countries over hegemony in the Gulf region. Not only would this ease the political situation in the region, it would also support the closer ties that are gradually being established with Iran, as well as opening up Saudi Arabia and Iran for further German involvement.
German foreign policy should be even more active in reconciling Germany’s own interests with the views of its partners. This is in order to live up to Germany’s responsibility for improving the political and social situation on the one hand, and on the other hand to strengthen the position of the German economy, which is essentially dependent on international business.
