"Europe is a strategic partner for us"

"Europe is a strategic partner for us, because as neighbors we are affected by the same developments", said al-Jubeir. "We welcome the increased engagement in the region. Europe already plays a substantial role in the Middle East," said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. In addition to representatives of ministries and think tanks, the discussion was attended by Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, and Nikolas Löbel, member of the German Bundestag.  

In June 2017, Minister of State Al-Jubeir last spoke at KAS in his then position as Saudi Foreign Minister. Deputy Secretary General of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Gerhard Wahlers, emphasized the importance of the Kingdom for the region. “Saudi Arabia is a key player in the Middle East. The developments in the region also have an impact on Europe,” Mr Wahlers said. Therefore, Saudi Arabia has a special responsibility that extends beyond the region.

During his visit to Berlin, al-Jubeir had also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, among others. On December 1, 2019, Saudi Arabia took over the chairmanship of the G20 for one year. On November 21 and 22, the country will host the virtual G20 summit. The Summit will be held under the motto "Making the opportunities of the 21st century a reality for all". 

As the only political foundation active in the Gulf States, the KAS promotes relations and exchange with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the other countries of the region. In addition to regular delegation visits, the foundation accompanies the transformation and modernization processes on site through dialogue measures and seminars.