German leader seeks energy deals, alliances on Gulf trip
By FRANK JORDANS
Associated Press
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first stop of a two-day, three-country visit aimed at striking new energy deals and forging fresh alliances. Amid the economic and geopolitical turmoil resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the German government has scrambled to wean Europe’s biggest economy off Russian oil, coal and gas. Senior officials said bridging the gap in natural gas supplies is a particular concern and one of the reasons Scholz is visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar with a high-level business delegation. The officials said Scholz will also address human rights when he meets with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Saturday.