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"In search of strategic partners"/ Chancellor Merz visits three countries in the Persian Gulf region

2026-02-04 08:13:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"In search of strategic partners"/ Chancellor Merz visits three

The fact that the important Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, are currently in high demand for the German government can be easily seen at all the airports in the capitals of these countries: While the Environment Minister, Social Democrat Carsten Schneider, was in Saudi Arabia, the plane landed with the Economy Minister, Christian Democrat Katharina Reiche, on board, who pointed out why this intensity: "If partnerships that you have trusted for decades start to falter, we have to look for new partners. " Partners are being sought in the energy sector and for armaments projects.

This is precisely what Chancellor Friedrich Merz is focusing on this week – from February 4 to 6 – as he travels first to Saudi Arabia, then to Qatar and then to the Emirates over the weekend. All within 72 hours. The aim is to intensify economic contacts and reach lasting agreements, at a time when it is increasingly unclear how much Europe and Germany can continue to rely on partners that have been important to date, such as the United States.

First India, now the Persian Gulf and then China

So the Chancellor's office is currently talking about "new strategic partnerships," such as with India, which the Chancellor recently visited. The Chancellor is scheduled to visit China at the end of February. Meanwhile, meetings are continuing in the Persian Gulf these days.

The magic word for German relations with the Gulf countries is always energy: For decades, the Gulf countries were Germany's oil suppliers without raw materials, and since Russia's war in Ukraine began, this topic has become increasingly important. The high share of Russian gas in the EU has been massively reduced; today, the share of liquefied natural gas in German supplies amounts to a total of 10 percent; by 2024, 30 percent will come from the US. A share that, according to the government, could even be reduced. If, for example, Saudi Arabia and Qatar supply more.

Liquid gas for Germany, weapons for the Gulf countries

DW correspondent Michaela Küfner says about gas supplies that "currently Washington is the main supplier of liquefied gas to Europe. If Europe does not want to move from dependence on Russia to dependence on the US, it needs the classic energy export countries in the Middle East. This also means that arms exports will be granted more generously in the future." But at the beginning of the visit, the government did not want to comment specifically on the projects.

It is known that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed interest in the Airbus A400 M military aircraft. And many energy projects have recently not been implemented, because Qatar was interested in long-term supply agreements, while Germany prefers short-term contracts. Government circles are learning that there is a willingness to make concessions to the Gulf states.

Kornelius: Human rights need to be improved

Merz is accompanied by a large economic delegation on his visit to the Persian Gulf, but many journalists in Berlin asked at the press conference whether Merz would talk about the human rights situation in the three Gulf states. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said last weekend: "We have seen that Saudi Arabia has embarked on a course of reform with cultural and social openness. This has also enabled improvements in women's rights. However, much remains to be done and further improvements are needed," Kornelius stressed. /DW