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Chancellor Merz Seeks Economic Ties in Gulf States

2/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travels to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to pursue new partnerships amid human rights concerns.
The trip seeks economic ties, especially in energy, as Germany looks for alternatives to Russian gas.
Merz leads a delegation of business leaders as Gulf states seek arms exports and military aircraft.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius acknowledged complexities of regional relations and emphasized Germany's focus on economic cooperation.

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Story summary

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travels to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to pursue new partnerships amid human rights concerns.
The trip seeks economic ties, especially in energy, as Germany looks for alternatives to Russian gas.
Merz leads a delegation of business leaders as Gulf states seek arms exports and military aircraft.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius acknowledged complexities of regional relations and emphasized Germany's focus on economic cooperation.