Status: 08.10.2022 04:43 a.m
The German Federal President visited Malta. The occasion was the Arraiolos Meeting, named after the Portuguese town of Arraiolos, where the non-governing European Presidents met for the first time in 2003.
The whistle goes shrill through the harbor of Valletta on Malta. “President on board” is the signal for the crew of U35. 30 men and one woman. The Federal President stands in front of the assembled troops. “I wish you calm seas for your mission and, above all, much success,” said Steinmeier.
He says this calmly and quite friendly before he climbs into the submarine through a small hatch. Just him, all cameras have to stay outside. Much is secret about submarines. The current mission of U35 is called Irini. The submarine and its crew are to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.
The German submarine is also on its way to track down refugee smugglers in the Mediterranean. The Navy has a total of six submarines, and they are considered the quietest in the world. Should U35’s more than hundred microphones detect a suspicious noise on the secret diving course somewhere in the Mediterranean, the submarine would not surface but would inform other ships of the Irini mission.
Stabilization of the situation in Libya “unfortunately unsuccessful”
The refugee issue accompanies Steinmeier on his trip to Malta. Steinmeier calls the attempts to stabilize the situation in Libya “unfortunately unsuccessful”, the current disaster near Lesbos, in which refugees drowned, has put the migration issue back on the agenda.
As diplomatically cautious as Steinmeier often expresses himself, here he formulates clearly. As early as Thursday, the Federal President will comment on the situation in Iran and call on the government in Tehran to stop the violence against the demonstrators.
“There must be an appeal from here for the regime in Tehran to stop the violence and show respect for the young people and women who are on the streets there,” he demands. On Friday he supports a deportation stop for refugees from Iran, which Federal Interior Minister Faeser is aiming for.
Steinmeier says: “I’m sure that local authorities and federal states will take care of protecting the affected people from Iran.” However, the supposed security of the Federal President is more of an appeal, because in fact it is more the case that many German municipalities feel burdened by the fact that more refugees are coming to Germany and expect (more) help from the federal government.
Malta’s restrictive migration policy is having an effect
In Malta, the refugee situation has eased considerably – from the Maltese point of view. The Maltese government’s extremely restrictive migration policy seems to put many people off. In any case, the numbers are clear.
Less than 300 people have landed on Malta’s coast since the beginning of 2022, but more than 70,000 have landed on the Italian coast in the same period. Steinmeier is clear that Italy therefore needs more European solidarity on this issue. solidarity and money. That’s probably what the conversation that Steinmeier had with his Italian counterpart Mattarella in Malta was about.
The two Presidents spoke privately. But it is becoming clear that Steinmeier sees in Mattarella the guarantee that Italy will not take an opposition course towards the EU, as suggested by the newly elected Italian head of government Meloni and her “Italy first course”.
Meeting is background politics
The Arraiolos meeting is not a decision-making body. The presidents don’t decide, they don’t rule. But that’s exactly why the meeting can be exciting. Because the discussions are considered very open. This kind of background politics suits the German Federal President. His experience as foreign minister stands him in good stead. What his critics would call vague or imprecise about him is an advantage here. Quiet, confidential voting behind the scenes.
While in Germany there may be a desire for clear words from the Federal President on the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the social gap in society or the protests of the so-called hot autumn, Steinmeier can quietly do politics here in Malta.
Steinmeier wants to defuse relations with Poland
This also means addressing issues. It can be assumed that the talks with Polish President Duda were not all harmonious. Steinmeier is concerned with defusing the atmospherically difficult situation after Poland’s demands for reparations from Germany. The next few weeks will show whether he succeeded.
In his second term of office, the Federal President seems satisfied with giving impetus in the background. The Federal President’s speech to everyone in Germany is expected to come in October. That would be an opportunity for Steinmeier to make his quiet politics much more audible.