Germany news: Merz wraps up Gulf investment charm offensive

A Jewish community center in Munich on Thursday received an envelope containing a live bullet, along with a threatening letter containing antisemitic statements, the Vice President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, Yehoshua Chmiel, said Friday.

"This is an escalation," Chmiel emphasized, adding the package differs from other threatening letters or social media posts in which people of the Jewish faith are insulted or verbally threatened with death. "The person has access to ammunition," he said.

Munich police declined to comment on details such as the letter's content and who could have been responsible, as an investigation is ongoing.

However, a spokesperson said that "based on the current state of the investigation, we can already rule out any actual danger."

The Jewish Community Center is located in the heart of Munich's old town and is a well-known place of Jewish worship.

Bavaria's State Government Commissioner for Antisemitism, Ludwig Spaenle, condemned the incident as "vile and inhuman."

"I hope that the state security services will be able to track down the perpetrators who are threatening the lives and physical integrity of Jewish people and causing them such profound fear."

Seeking closer ties with the autocratically governed Gulf states that have dubious human rights records — especially Saudi Arabia — represents a turnaround from previous German governments.

On Thursday, Merz said "our partners may not all share the same values and interests, but they do share the understanding that we need an order in which we trust agreements and treat each other with respect."

Merz said human rights were on the agenda during talks with Gulf rulers, but those took place "behind closed doors."

"We are not uncritical, but we do not place the Gulf states under general suspicion," he said.

Saudi Arabia is notorious for its treatment of women and a draconian justice system. In 2018, the brutal murder and dismemberment of Saudi journalist and crown prince critic Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey shocked the world.

Western intelligence agencies like the CIA assess Khashoggi was killed at the behest of the crown prince, who has denied all involvement. According to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia carried out a record number of 356 executions in 2025.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrapped up a three-day tour of the Gulf region in Abu Dhabi on Friday by positioning Germany as a reliable investment partner, and eyeing a central role in a potential EU trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Germany is held in very high regard here, partly because we are a good place to invest," Merz said in Abu Dhabi.

The chancellor's trip, which included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, comes as Germany seeks to diversify its economic and strategic partnerships amid increasing global economic instability, particularly brought on by US President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies.

"What is needed above all in a world of great uncertainty is reliability and consistency, including in bilateral relations," Merz said, adding that Gulf countries expect Germany to take on a significant degree of leadership in the European Union.

"We are a country that is reliable. We are a country that is prepared to cooperate more closely in foreign trade policy, including a possible trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates."

Summing up his three-day tour, Merz said his meetings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE showed "what great potential we have."

After meeting with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha on Thursday, Merz said Germany would work "more intensively in arms cooperation than in recent years" with what he described as reliable partners in the Gulf region. Merz also hinted at energy deals, with Germany ready to buy more liquefied natural gas from Qatar.

Germany's overall exports in 2025 were up 1% compared to the previous year, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.

Germany's exports in 2025 totaled €1.5 trillion ($1.77 trillion) — the first sign of export growth in two years.

The light plus was driven by stronger trade from within the EU, with German exports to other EU countries rising around 4% last year. It was also driven by strong December numbers. 

Destatis and German Chamber of Commerce (DIHK) data show European countries bought more of Germany's core industrial goods like machine tools and engineering systems.

Volker Treier, head of global trade at the DIHK, told the Reuters news agency that European demand more or less saved German trade in 2025.

"This shows how necessary a German and European economic policy geared toward competitiveness is now," Treier said.

Read more here. 

Berlin Brandenburg Airport reopened on Friday afternoon, after closing in the morning for the second day due to winter weather.

However, the airport's website warned passengers should count on further delays and flight cancellations as lengthy de-icing operations continue.

The airport already saw scores of cancellations on Thursday due to freezing rain.

Berlin Brandenburg is Germany's third-busiest airport after the international transit hubs Frankfurt and Munich. It is located in the town of Schönefeld, which lies just south of the German capital and is part of the eastern state of Brandenburg.

The east of Germany is going through a protracted cold snap, with days of freezing temperatures, snow and sleet. Other parts of the country are experiencing milder weather, including the international hub, Frankfurt airport.  

Guten Tag from the DW newsroom here in Bonn. Join us as we bring you the latest news making headlines about Germany.

Today, Chancellor Friedrich Merz wraps up a three-day tour of the Gulf region, seeking new business and investment deals. 

And in economic news, German exports showed a surprising rise, even as goods sold to the US suffered under tariffs.