German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche departed for Saudi Arabia on Saturday, where she hopes to conclude an energy partnership intended to strengthen bilateral ties.

Speaking before her departure, Reiche said the planned energy partnership would include the purchase of oil and gas products from Saudi Arabia, as well as targeted investment in renewable energies. The minister spoke of storage technologies and sustainable hydrogen.

Reiche is accompanied by representatives from 35 companies and 11 start-ups from both the conventional and renewable energy sectors.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is also placing a strong focus on decarbonization.

The visit, scheduled to run through Tuesday, also reflects Germany’s efforts to expand international partnerships amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

“When partnerships that we have relied on for decades start to become a little fragile, we have to look for new partners,” Reiche said, referring to tensions in the trans-Atlantic relationship since US President Donald Trump returned to office.

As an export-oriented nation, Germany needs to broaden its base, she added.

dpa