Officials say U.S. Energy Secretary to visit Saudi Arabia and UAE next week

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U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to Visit Saudi Arabia and UAE for Climate Cooperation Talks

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is set to embark on a crucial trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next week to focus on “climate cooperation” and other key issues, according to two Biden administration officials who spoke to Reuters on Friday.

The visit, scheduled to take place from Tuesday through Thursday, will see Granholm first visiting the UAE before heading to Saudi Arabia. This will mark her first official trip to the region since assuming office as secretary.

“The visit is a continuation of long-standing engagement between the U.S. and this region,” the officials stated. “Specifically, for the Department of Energy, it will move forward work both countries are doing on climate cooperation and to diversify the energy economy.”

One of the highlights of Granholm’s visit will be her participation in a meeting of the Net-Zero Producers Forum, a coalition of countries that collectively represent 40% of global oil and gas production. The forum includes major players such as the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and focuses on strategies to reduce emissions, including methane abatement and the deployment of clean energy solutions. The group was established in 2021 to address the pressing issue of climate change within the energy sector.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are members of OPEC, the influential oil-producing cartel that is currently deliberating on whether to extend output cuts to stabilize global oil prices.

Despite the significance of the Net-Zero meeting, Granholm is not expected to engage in discussions on oil policy with her counterparts during the trip, as clarified by one of the sources.

In parallel to Granholm’s visit, the Biden administration is reportedly nearing an agreement with Saudi Arabia on U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance. However, a potential normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, envisioned as part of a broader Middle East diplomatic initiative, remains elusive at this stage. The negotiations on these matters are being led by White House officials and the State Department, rather than Granholm.

Granholm’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to engaging with key energy partners in the region to address climate change and promote sustainable energy practices. The discussions and outcomes of this trip are expected to have far-reaching implications for the global energy landscape and efforts to combat climate change.

As Granholm prepares to embark on this important diplomatic mission, all eyes will be on the outcomes of her meetings and the potential impact they could have on shaping future collaborations in the energy sector. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.