German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has commenced a three-day diplomatic tour of the Gulf region with an official visit to Saudi Arabia, marking his first major engagement in the strategically important Middle East amid shifting global geopolitical alignments.

Merz, accompanied by a delegation of business leaders, landed in Riyadh on Wednesday evening where he is scheduled to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials to advance economic, energy and security cooperation.

Berlin’s outreach comes as Europe’s largest economy seeks to diversify its international partnerships beyond traditional ties with the United States and China, emphasising the Gulf’s growing role in global energy markets, investment flows and regional stability.

Ahead of his departure, Merz said that strong partnerships with influential states like those in the Gulf are “more important than ever” in a world where major powers increasingly shape political and economic outcomes.

He framed the tour as an opportunity to strengthen trade links, attract investment and expand cooperation in key sectors including energy, industrial technology and climate-relevant industries such as green hydrogen.

Energy cooperation and supply chain diversification are central themes of Merz’s visit, which follows recent agreements between Germany and Gulf partners on long-term cooperation in sustainable energy, hydrogen and infrastructure development.

German officials have also indicated a willingness to adopt a less restrictive approach to arms exports in discussions with Gulf counterparts, aiming to enhance bilateral defence industrial ties.

Merz’s agenda in Riyadh is expected to include high-level talks on regional security and geopolitical issues, including the situation in Iran, where he reiterated calls for Tehran to halt its military nuclear programme and end destabilising activities across the Middle East.

While economic and security matters are paramount, German government spokespeople have signalled that human rights concerns and differing values will be “addressed” as part of the broader dialogue with host nations.

After Saudi Arabia, Merz will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to broaden the scope of discussions and reinforce Germany’s presence in a region that has become increasingly influential in global diplomacy and investment.

The tour underlines Berlin’s strategic effort to embed itself within a network of partnerships that support stability, prosperity and shared global interests.