German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today at the start of an official visit to the Kingdom, a visit that comes at a crucial time on both the regional and international stages. He was received at King Khalid International Airport by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and a number of senior officials, reflecting the great importance the Kingdom attaches to this visit.
Historical background and context of the visit
This visit aims to strengthen the long-standing and robust relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the Kingdom's most prominent trading partners within the European Union. The visit gains added significance as it comes amidst complex global challenges, most notably the energy crisis facing Europe and the rapid pace of geopolitical shifts. Germany, as Europe's largest economy, seeks to diversify its energy sources and secure its supplies, while the Kingdom is steadily progressing towards achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy and enhance its position as a leading global investment powerhouse.
The importance of the visit and its expected impact
Energy and economic issues are expected to top the agenda of talks between the two sides. This includes discussing ways to enhance cooperation in the conventional energy sector, as well as exploring partnership opportunities in the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors. Germany considers green hydrogen a key component of its clean energy transition strategy, and the Kingdom is among the leading countries poised to become a global leader in this sector. The talks will also cover boosting mutual investments and attracting German expertise and technology to participate in major projects within the framework of Vision 2030.
On both regional and international levels, the visit carries significant political implications. It represents an opportunity to exchange views and coordinate positions on issues of common interest, including the security and stability of the Middle East region and international efforts to address security challenges. This visit underscores the pivotal role the Kingdom plays as an active member of the G20 and a key player in stabilizing global energy markets, making coordination with it a strategic imperative for major international powers such as Germany.
The official reception included, in addition to the Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Secretary of the Region, Minister of Finance Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), the Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Germany Fahd Al-Hathal, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom Michael Kindsgrab, Acting Director of the Region Police Major General Mansour bin Nasser Al-Otaibi, and the Undersecretary of Royal Protocol Fahd Al-Sahil.
