The war in the Middle East has diminished the negotiating power that key regional LNG exporters Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have enjoyed for years. Importers of LNG from Europe to Asia plan to negotiate better terms in future long-term deals and ask for lower prices and higher contract flexibility, industry executives at LNG importing companies have told Reuters. For years, Qatar and the UAE commanded significant negotiating power, tied to their reliability as LNG suppliers. The higher regional risk of Middle East's LNG supply has emboldened buyers to sign deals at lower Brent-linked prices. Qatar and the UAE's long-term LNG contracts were priced at 12.6%-12.7% of the Brent crude price before the war.