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This year, we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the reunification of Germany. For me, this moment holds deep personal significance. When Germany was reunified in 1990, I was serving in Warsaw, Poland, in the midst of a momentous period in Europe. From that vantage point, I could see firsthand the rapid unfolding of history — events that would forever change not just Germany but the entire continent.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was not just the collapse of a physical barrier between East and West Germany, but also a symbol of the end of a division that had lasted more than four decades. It represented a triumph of hope, of courage and of the unbreakable will of people yearning for freedom and unity.

But this unity did not come easily. It was the result of historical events that were transformed, through wise and patient diplomacy, into a stable regional order under the shared vision of integrated security. It was a process that demanded courage and patience from all sides, a spirit of cooperation that continues to guide us today.

With this experience in our hearts and minds, we are happy about recent progress achieved in the Middle East — after so many dark days the region has had to face. We very much welcome the constructive and active role being played by ºÚÁÏÉçÇø in the international effort to bring about peace, stability and security. And Germany will stay engaged as well — be it in Syria, Gaza or Yemen. The recent meeting of the Munich Security Conference hosted by ºÚÁÏÉçÇø in AlUla underlines the potential for cooperation between our two countries in making the region more peaceful, secure and prosperous.

At the bilateral level, we continue to witness an ever-increasing number of high-level visits, including the visit of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø in February 2025 — the first official visit by a German head of state to the Kingdom.

Economically, German companies continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the development of ºÚÁÏÉçÇø’s key sectors. Today, more than 850 German businesses operate in the Kingdom, making a significant contribution to the realization of Vision 2030. Whether it is riding the new Riyadh Metro aboard a Siemens train, strolling through parks designed by German architects or generating green hydrogen in Neom using Thyssenkrupp Nucera’s technology, the examples of successful German-Saudi economic collaboration are abundant. Numerous new German headquarters have opened in ºÚÁÏÉçÇø and, with the frequent business delegations visiting the Kingdom to explore market opportunities, we expect many more to follow.

These achievements would not be possible without the support of our institutional network in the Kingdom, which includes the German Chamber of Commerce, the German Society for International Cooperation and H2-Diplo Office, the German International Schools in Riyadh and Jeddah, the Goethe Institute, and the German Academic Exchange Service. Our extensive institutional framework strengthens our collective efforts to advance shared goals and build long-lasting partnerships with Saudi counterparts across various sectors.

Together with ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, we share a vision for a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for the Middle East. Together, we strive to make this vision a reality. To tackle the challenges of our time, we must embrace bold ideas and invest in innovation, transformation and energy security. Our energy future must be secure, environmentally sustainable, climate-conscious and accessible to all.

Technology will lie at the heart of most solutions to today’s global challenges and, to bring these solutions to life, we must push the limits of technological innovation, moving from the experimental stage to scalable, real-world applications — a goal both Germany and ºÚÁÏÉçÇø are committed to achieving.

We are happy about recent progress achieved in the Middle East — after so many dark days the region has had to face.

Michael Kindsgrab

In this context, I am proud to share that the German government has committed more than €2 billion ($2.3 billion) to fusion energy technology with the goal of building the world’s first fusion reactor in Germany. This commitment underscores Germany’s long-standing dedication to high-tech solutions and innovation. High-tech has also always been a strong core of German-Saudi cooperation, particularly in the energy sector, and I am confident that our collaboration will continue to expand, as ºÚÁÏÉçÇø also makes significant investments in research and development in this crucial field.

We believe that nurturing our strong, multifaceted relationship, built on mutual respect and shared interests, is key to addressing the challenges of our time and ensuring peace and stability for all. With our joint dedication to progress and prosperity, we are confident that the partnership between Germany and ºÚÁÏÉçÇø will remain a cornerstone for peace, innovation and shared success in the years ahead.

• Michael Kindsgrab is the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of ºÚÁÏÉçÇø.