Energy crisis: Scholz in Arabia, first leg of a Gulf tour


German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (l) received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on September 24, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Saudi Royal Palace/AFP/BANDAR AL-JALOUD)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid a visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the starting point of a 48-hour tour of three Gulf states to try to forge energy partnerships there.

Mr. Scholz, accompanied by a large delegation representing many economic sectors, met the crown prince and de facto leader of the oil kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman, known as “MBS”.

During his tour in the Gulf, he must also go to the United Arab Emirates and then to Qatar.

Like French President Emmanuel Macron or former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson before him, Mr. Scholz is making this trip in the midst of a race against time to find new suppliers to compensate for Russian gas deliveries which have almost dried up.

This trip to the three countries, “important regional players”, could thus result in the signing of contracts, in particular in the Emirates for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“We are going to finalize ambitious proposals,” assured an adviser to Mr. Scholz, without wanting to say more at this stage.

Before leaving Saudi Arabia, Mr. Scholz spoke to German journalists about “long-standing economic and political relations” with Riyadh.

– “Human rights” –

“That is why it is important and right that we are here today – as well as in the other stages of my trip – to continue talking about the development of the region, the possibilities of economic relations, but also the political challenges that are before us.”

In his remarks, reported by the German news channel n-tv, Mr. Scholz also considered that “the great current challenge is certainly the situation that the world is experiencing following the Russian attack on Ukraine. This has international consequences.”

“I made it clear that it is important for us to support Ukraine in defending its own integrity and sovereignty and that we will continue to do so, and that Russia must (there) withdraw its troops,” he said. he said again.

Amnesty International deplored the trip of the German Chancellor to Saudi Arabia and in particular his meeting with “MBS”, criticized on the international scene after the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey in 2018.

The portrait of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, October 2, 2020

The portrait of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2020 (AFP/Archives/Ozan KOSE)

“The German Chancellor should not be silent on human rights violations”, according to Amnesty International.

Mr. Scholz was, according to his entourage, to address the issue of human rights and the status of women with the Saudi prince.

“We discussed all the issues that revolve around human rights and citizens. As it should be. And you can assume that nothing that needs to be said has been omitted,” Scholz told reporters. German journalists who asked him if he mentioned the Khashoggi affair.

Angela Merkel’s successor will be received on Sunday by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, then the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

© 2022 AFP

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