"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz embarked on a three-day trip to the Gulf region on Wednesday, where he is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The trip comes on the back of visits to Africa and Latin America at the end of last year and after a trip to India in January (see video), as Merz looks to strengthen Germany's partnerships with counties outside the European Union and NATO."
""We want to intensify our relationships with countries who want to work with us and who have comparable perceptions of rules-based international trade," said a government spokesman. Topics on the agenda in the Gulf are expected to include oil and gas supplies, arms exports and geopolitical diplomacy, including the ongoing conflicts and crises in the Palestinian territories, Iran and Ukraine."
"Indeed, the latest round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States, are set to take place in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, on Wednesday and Thursday, before Merz's arrival there on Friday. Neither Germany (nor any European countries) are involved in those talks, but all three Gulf countries are key export markets for the German arms industry, while Qatar is an important interlocutor for Berlin when it comes to the repatriation of Afghans to Afghanistan."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz embarked on a three-day trip to the Gulf to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The trip follows visits to Africa, Latin America, and India as part of a push to strengthen Germany's partnerships with countries outside the EU and NATO. A government spokesman said Germany wants to intensify relationships with countries that share comparable perceptions of rules-based international trade. Agenda items include oil and gas supplies, arms exports and geopolitical diplomacy related to the Palestinian territories, Iran and Ukraine. The UAE will host a US-mediated Russia–Ukraine negotiation round in Abu Dhabi before Merz's arrival. Qatar serves as an interlocutor for Afghan repatriation.
#germany-gulf-relations #energy-diplomacy #arms-exports #russia-ukraine-negotiations #afghan-repatriation
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