Instead of flying to Australia as planned, Annalena Baerbock is now stuck in the desert. Once again, one of the foreign minister’s planes broke down and cannot fly any further. This must not go on like this.
Patrick Diekmann reports from Abu Dhabi
Something went wrong again. Actually, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) should arrive in the Australian capital Canberra on Monday afternoon. In Australia it is currently winter, it is only 15 degrees warm, at night the thermometer can go down to 2 degrees.
But “Down Under” has to wait: Baerbock is stuck in the desert in Abu Dhabi at 40 degrees. Again one of her planes is so broken that she can’t fly any further.
The consequences of the breakdown are not yet foreseeable. On Monday morning, as of 7 a.m., it is still completely unclear whether the Green politician can continue to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji or whether the whole trip will fall through. Only one thing is clear: a breakdown flight once again upset the minister’s travel plan, which she had been working out for months. Slowly it’s just embarrassing for Germany.
Because the incidents are piling up. In May, Baerbock was stuck in the desert after a technical defect, back then in Qatar. It was particularly unpleasant for the air force’s readiness to fly, which organizes government trips. Because the plane that came to Qatar to replace the first broken-down plane suddenly broke down. That must not be the claim of the federal government.
Old technology breaks down more often
After all, the Federal Chancellor, the Federal President and the ministers regularly have to go to very important appointments abroad. The world is currently experiencing several major crises that require coordination, negotiations and discussions at international level.
Germany cannot and must not afford its members of the government to be late due to aircraft disruptions or a planned trip having to be canceled.
Of course, technology can always break down, unfortunately that’s the way it is. But the same applies: Old technology breaks down more often than modern ones.
The Air Force readiness to fly has many very competent employees in many areas, it may not be their fault. But: The risk of breakdowns can only be minimized if the German aircraft fleet is also modernized – that is, the federal government puts money into the machines.
Germany’s reputation suffers
There is no question that, given the empty state coffers, it is not easy to demand this. On the other hand, we cannot save at the wrong end either.
Incidents like this shouldn’t happen again and again. It should not be the case that fellow passengers on board the aircraft are no longer surprised when the aircraft has to turn around due to damage.
It must be clear to everyone that investments in a modern aircraft fleet are also investments in the external image of the Federal Republic. Last but not least, it is about Germany’s image, about the attributions abroad, which represent a cornerstone of our country’s economic success: the reliability of German technology.
To exaggerate, one could say: First the technology dies, then the reputation. And that is exactly what the federal government must not jeopardize.
