The Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Friedrich Merz, arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today, accompanied by a high-level delegation, at the start of an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at discussing ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Official welcoming ceremony at King Khalid International Airport

Among those who welcomed the German Chancellor upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport were His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh. His Excellency the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), also participated in the welcoming ceremony, reflecting the economic importance of this visit.

The reception delegation also included the Acting Chargé d'Affaires at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Germany, Mr. Fahd Al-Hathal, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom, Mr. Michael Kindsgrab, His Excellency the Acting Director of Riyadh Region Police, Major General Mansour bin Nasser Al-Otaibi, and His Excellency the Undersecretary of Royal Protocol, Mr. Fahd Al-Sahil.

Dimensions of the visit and the future of Saudi-German relations

The German Chancellor’s visit to Riyadh is of great importance in light of current international changes, as Germany is the Kingdom’s largest economic partner in Europe, while Saudi Arabia represents a pivotal political and economic force in the Middle East and the G20.

The presence of Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan as an accompanying minister to the German guest indicates that economic and investment issues will top the agenda of the talks. Through its Vision 2030, the Kingdom seeks to deepen partnerships with major industrial nations like Germany, particularly in the renewable energy, green hydrogen, technology, and manufacturing sectors, where German companies possess extensive expertise that can contribute to accelerating development and economic diversification in the Kingdom.

This visit comes as an extension of a long history of diplomatic and economic relations between Riyadh and Berlin. The talks are expected to address regional and international issues of common interest, which will enhance the prospects for peace and stability in the region, in addition to exploring opportunities to increase trade and open new horizons for mutual investments between the private sectors in both countries.

The Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today, accompanied by a high-level delegation, on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at discussing ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields.

Among those who welcomed the German Chancellor upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport were His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh. Also present were the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), the Chargé d'Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Germany, Mr. Fahd Al-Hathal, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom, Mr. Michael Kindsgrapp, the Acting Director of Riyadh Region Police, Major General Mansour bin Nasser Al-Otaibi, and the Deputy Chief of Royal Protocol, Mr. Fahd Al-Sahil.

Dimensions of the visit and its strategic importance

This visit is of paramount importance in both its timing and substance, as it comes within the framework of the strong historical ties that bind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany is a key economic and trade partner for the Kingdom in Europe, and both sides continuously strive to develop these relations and propel them towards broader horizons in a way that serves the interests of both friendly nations.

The presence of Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan as an accompanying minister underscores the significant economic focus of this visit, with economic and investment matters expected to top the agenda. In line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom seeks to strengthen partnerships with leading German companies, particularly in the technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, where Germany possesses extensive global expertise.

Cooperation in the fields of energy and the future

The energy sector, particularly clean energy and green hydrogen, is a cornerstone of the modern cooperation between Riyadh and Berlin. The Kingdom aims to become the primary supplier of green hydrogen to Europe, and Germany is considered a promising and pivotal market in this regard, given its focus on energy transition. The visit is likely to include in-depth discussions on how to activate previous agreements and accelerate joint efforts to address global climate challenges.

In addition to the economic aspect, political consultations play a pivotal role in such high-level visits, as the Kingdom and Germany are key pillars of stability in their respective regions. It is expected that views will be exchanged on regional and international issues of common interest, and ways to enhance international peace and security will be discussed, reflecting the depth of political and diplomatic coordination between the two leaderships.