Germany is accelerating efforts to diversify its energy sources amid growing concerns over heavy dependence on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). Chancellor Olaf Scholz is turning toward the Middle East as part of a broader strategy to strengthen energy security for Europe’s largest economy.
According to Jin10, Scholz is traveling to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by a delegation of leading German business figures. The diplomatic tour begins in Riyadh, where Scholz will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, followed by visits to Doha and Abu Dhabi, before returning to Berlin on Friday night.
Energy experts in Germany have warned that overreliance on a single supplier poses serious risks. Susanne Nies, an energy specialist at the Helmholtz Research Center in Berlin, noted that excessive dependence on the U.S. could expose Germany to geopolitical pressure and policy uncertainty. She recommended expanding pipeline gas imports from Norway and increasing LNG supplies from Canada or Australia to balance risks.
Meanwhile, Claudia Kemfert, head of the Energy, Transport, and Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic Research, stressed that dependency on U.S. LNG introduces new geopolitical and pricing vulnerabilities. She argued that Germany should take a longer-term view by reducing overall reliance on fossil fuels, rather than simply switching between supplier countries.
Germany’s push to diversify energy imports highlights a wider European debate: how to ensure energy security while navigating global politics and accelerating the transition toward renewable and sustainable energy solutions.
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