Merz Seeks LNG Deals in Gulf Region to Hedge US Exposure

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has set his sights on the Middle East to try and diversify energy supplies for Europe’s biggest economy and reduce dependency on LNG imports from the US.

Merz and a delegation of corporate leaders will leave Wednesday for Riyadh, where he’s scheduled to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler. On Thursday, he’ll move on to Qatar and United Arab Emirates, before returning to Berlin Friday evening. The business delegation includes top executives from Airbus SE, Deutsche Post DHL Group and Uniper SE.