German far-right AfD warns against 'fatal' reliance on U.S. natural gas, lobbies for Russian imports

Record ID: 2361497

  • Title: German far-right AfD warns against 'fatal' reliance on U.S. natural gas, lobbies for Russian imports
  • Date: 5th March 2026
  • Summary: UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, UKRAINE (MARCH 5, 2026) (REUTERS) AMBULANCES WITH RELEASED POWS ARRIVING, PEOPLE CHANTING ‘Welcome!’ / POW SAYING OUT OF WINDOW ‘Everybody will get back!’ POW BEING TRANSPORTED OUT OF AMBULANCE VALENTYNA MURAVSKA, WIFE OF UKRAINIAN SOLDIER, HOLDING FLAG WITH HIS PORTRAIT AND NAME (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) WIFE OF MISSING UKRAINIAN SOLDIER, VALENTYNA MUR
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: AfD Alice Weidel Gulf Russia USA foreigners import migration natural gas
  • Location: ROTTWEIL & PFORZHEIM, GERMANY
  • City: ROTTWEIL & PFORZHEIM, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA003116105032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS PROFANITY IN SHOT 11
    Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader said late on Thursday (March 5) the dependence on natural gas from the United States was “fatal,” suggesting Berlin should instead enter into negotiations with Russia where "it is cheapest.”
    Weidel addressed a rally in Rottweil in the country’s south, ahead of Sunday’s (March 8) regional elections in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg where the AfD is projected to come in third at around 20%, according to latest polls.
    Her comments came as state-owned German energy group Uniper is holding talks with Canada to expand its ‌liquefied natural gas purchases, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
    According to the sources, the discussions are part of Germany’s plans to strike a broad economic partnership and cut reliance on U.S. supplies.   
    Support for the AfD, classified by state authorities as a suspected right‑wing extremist group in Baden‑Wuerttemberg, declined as the two frontrunners in Sunday’s election gained ground, recent polls showed.
    The race has tightened days before voters head to the polls on Sunday, with the Greens at 24% closing in on the long‑leading Christian Democrats (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz which currently stand at around 27%, surveys showed.
    Baden‑Wuerttemberg, home to global companies such as Mercedes‑Benz, Porsche and Bosch, has some 7.7 million eligible voters.
    (Production: Frank Simon, Andi Buerger, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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