German chancellor Merz tours Gulf to diversify from US LNG dependence

Thursday 05 February 2026 - 16:20

By: Dakir Madiha

German chancellor Merz tours Gulf to diversify from US LNG dependence

Europe's reliance on liquefied natural gas from the United States and Russia surged to nearly 80 percent in January 2026, per Kpler analytics data, alarming European officials over the bloc's failure to diversify suppliers despite years of post-Ukraine invasion efforts.

The United States accounted for 60 percent of EU LNG imports in January, up from 53 percent in January 2025, while Russia supplied about 19 percent, Reuters reported citing Kpler. These figures coincide with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz launching a three-day Gulf tour this week to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to secure new energy partnerships and reduce Berlin's exposure to American natural gas.

"We clearly hear this concern when I meet energy ministers and heads of state across Europe," EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said last week, warning that President Donald Trump's Greenland threats serve as an "energy security wake-up call." "There's growing concern, which I share, about the potential risk of replacing one dependency with another."

Germany exemplifies this vulnerability. About 96 percent of all German LNG imports now come from the United States, per Environmental Action Germany cited by Der Spiegel. Germany paid roughly 3.2 billion euros for U.S. gas in 2025, a 60 percent jump from the prior year.

The EU actively explores alternatives from Canada, Qatar, and North African countries, Jorgensen noted. European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera also warned EU dependence on U.S. LNG has quadrupled since 2021.

Not everyone shares the alarm. Speaking at LNG2026 in Doha this week, Carsten Poppinga, commercial director of Uniper, downplayed U.S. energy dependence worries. "We're not dealing with an administration; we're dealing with companies operating in a system, and I trust that system," Poppinga told Reuters. "U.S. LNG dominance is understandable and justified as the most economic solution."

Still, Poppinga acknowledged diversification needs, noting Uniper plans to expand sources including the Middle East and Argentina.

Merz met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh Wednesday and visited Doha Thursday for talks with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. His Gulf tour wraps Friday in the United Arab Emirates.

"We need such partnerships more than ever at a time when great powers increasingly dictate policy," Merz said before departure.

The EU agreed to ban all Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports by end-2027, with initial steps starting soon. Meanwhile, Russia's Yamal LNG terminal exported 1.69 million metric tons to European markets in January alone, up 8 percent from last year, per German NGO Urgewald.