The economics minister travels to the Gulf. The focus of the talks is peace in the Middle East and cooperation on hydrogen.
Muscat – Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens) arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on Tuesday (January 9th) at the start of his Middle East trip. Habeck wants to hold talks with the Omani government about economic relations between the two countries. The focus should primarily be on the Middle East conflict and the topic of hydrogen.
Habeck on a trip to the Middle East – “There must be peace again”
“The trip takes place against the background of the terrible attack by Hamas on Israel and the resulting war in the Gaza Strip – the security situation is very tense,” wrote Habeck's ministry in a press release before the trip. “There must be peace again. The Palestinian population needs a clear perspective towards a two-state solution,” said the Green politician on Monday evening before his departure from Berlin. “Israel needs protection and has the right to defend itself. But above all, the killing must stop now,” he demanded.
During the further course of the Economics Minister's three-day Middle East trip, Habeck will also visit the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, Israel, as well as the Palestinian autonomous areas in the West Bank and hold talks with high-ranking politicians there.
Cooperation on the topic of hydrogen – Habeck for discussions in Oman and Saudi Arabia
The Green politician is accompanied by a business delegation. In addition to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas, economic cooperation is also on the agenda. Particularly in focus: renewable energies. Habeck's ministry previously mentioned the development of international hydrogen production as a focus.
“The development of the hydrogen economy in Oman and possible exports to Germany and Europe are central topics of the existing German-Omani energy dialogue,” said the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In Muscat, the Minister of Economic Affairs will meet, among others, the country's head of state, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. In Saudi Arabia, too, the topic of hydrogen is high on the agenda as part of the German-Saudi energy dialogue.
Habeck's second trip to the Gulf – hydrogen as a future technology
This is Habeck's second trip to the Arabian Peninsula during his term as Economics Minister. After the start of the Ukraine war and the resulting stop in deliveries of Russian gas, Habeck traveled to Qatar in March 2022, among other places, to negotiate gas deliveries. The goal: to find a way out of dependence on Russian gas and Kremlin autocrat Vladimir Putin.
A goal that will also be pursued on Habeck's most recent trip. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs' plans, hydrogen represents a “key element for the energy transition”. However, the Federal Republic will also be heavily dependent on imports for the foreseeable future. Habecks will also create the foundations for future collaborations.
Habeck's party colleague, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, has also been on a trip to the Middle East since the weekend. The Green politician spoke out, among other things, for the delivery of Eurofighter fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (fd with material from dpa)
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