In spring, the federal government reaped much malice for its sudden interest in Qatar. Actually, the small emirate did not suffer well in the traffic light coalition because of its political, social and constitutional grievances, as the soccer World Cup shows. It also lives on oil and gas, those fossil sources that Berlin wants to dry up in the interests of climate protection. But in March, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) rushed to Doha and bowed deeply to the Trade Minister.
The image of this servant was understood as an expression of German bucking in order to obtain Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a substitute for Russian imports. Qatar has fewer inhabitants than Berlin, but has the largest gas reserves after Russia and Iran. In May, Habeck was able to conclude an energy partnership with Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sharida al-Kaabi. The Emir and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) were also there. But there were no real supply contracts for a long time, so skeptics criticized the attempts as failed pandering. The federal government pointed out that it could only create the political conditions, the contracts would have to be concluded between the trading companies.
