Parrikar to Obama - World’s Most Awkward Diplomatic Blunders

Political and diplomatic blunders from across the world that will be remembered for a long time to come.

The year 2015 has seen a deluge of Parrikarisms ranging from the diminishing importance of the Indian Army because it has not fought a war in the last 40-50 years to addressing the issue of smaller eyes on ‘Made in China’ Ganesha idols.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore also created a stir through his confirmation that the Indian Army recently conducted an operation in the territory of Myanmar. In contrast, Maj Gen Ranbir Singh, Additional Director General Military Operations said that the operation was carried out “along the Indo-Myanmar border”. While the contradiction shows a lack of coordination, Myanmar’s eventual denial that the Indian Army entered its territory makes one wonder if Rathore spoke out of turn.

But India certainly isn’t the only home of the political and diplomatic gaffe. Numerous blunders from across the world will be remembered for a long time to come. Here are a select few.

Ronald Reagan’s Radio Misadventure

US President Ronald Reagan, in 1984, was preparing for his weekly radio broadcast. Without realising that the microphones were switched on, he made an anti-Soviet joke that was picked up by radio technicians in studios across the country.

My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.
– Ronald Reagan

George Bush’s Hands-on Approach

At the G8 summit in 2006, US President George Bush rubbed German Chancellor Angela Merkel the wrong way - literally. Bush though it would be okay to give Merkel a back rub. Her reaction quickly cleared all his misconceptions.

Gerhard Schroeder Plays With Fire

During his visit to Israel in 2000, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder paid his respects at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. In memory of the six million Jews slain by the Nazis, an eternal flame burns at the Memorial. In an attempt to turn the flame up, the German Chancellor turned the switch in the wrong direction and extinguished the fire.

Considering the countries’ complicated history, this would probably count as the worst blunder a German head of state could have committed in Israel.

Obama and Sarkozy on Netanyahu

During the 2011 G20 summit, US President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had a conversation over a live mic about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that probably didn’t win either of them any brownie points with the Israeli head of state.

“I cannot bear Netanyahu, he’s a liar,” said Sarkozy to which Obama responded with “You’re fed up with him? I have to deal with him even more often than you.”

Despite being obvious diplomatic blunders, these incidents provided some amusing anecdotes in the midst of never-ending international tensions.

However, not every diplomatic or political mistake can be laughed off. Parrikar launched a war of words between India and Pakistan when he said that terrorists were needed to neutralise other terrorists. But if there was anyone who caused an actual war with his words, it was probably the US Secretary of State Dean Acheson in 1950.

In 1950, during a speech, he failed to mention the Korean Peninsula when he warned the Communists and allies that the USA would protect nations from Indonesia to Japan. Russia and North Korea took this as an implication that the US would not defend South Korea. A few months later, North Korea invaded its neighbour, beginning the Korean War.