Arms exports to Saudi Arabia will increase significantly in 2022

Berlin

Despite widespread export restrictions, the federal government approved arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia for 44.2 million euros last year – more than at any time since 2018. This came from the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ response to a request from left-wing MP Sevim Dagdelen, who is available German news agency. It notes that these exports are intended exclusively for joint ventures with other EU or NATO countries.

A total of 48 permits have been issued to Saudi Arabia. War weapons account for 7.1 million euros in export volume, and other weapons 37.1 million. These include supplies for the Tornado fighter jets and the Eurofighter, which are manufactured in Great Britain. In addition, the United States federal government authorized the export of combat ship components worth 40.8 million euros to Saudi Arabia, which originally came from Germany.

The previous federal government had largely halted arms exports to the desert country, which was governed with an iron fist, in part because of the kingdom’s involvement in the Yemen war and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Consulate General in Istanbul. SPD But it has made exceptions for joint ventures with coalition partners – and has benefited from this time and time again. However, it is not as strong as the traffic light government of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party in their first year in office.

The law aims to restrict arms exports to third countries

In 2019, the Black and Red government approved arms exports for 0.8 million euros, in 2020 for 30.8 million euros, and in 2021 for 2.5 million euros. The traffic light government has now increased export permits to 44.2 million in 2022. An arms export law is being developed in the Economy Ministry headed by Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Green). The original goal was to significantly restrict arms exports to third countries.

Left-wing foreign expert Sevim Dagdelen sharply criticized the export permits. “The fact that a traffic light government is so relentless about its continued approval of its own arms shipments and exports to Saudi Arabia via third countries, even though a direct dictatorship is responsible for the Yemen war that has killed nearly 400,000 people, is criminal,” she explains. What happened. Greens mean by values-based feminism an understanding of foreign policy.”

_{note: This report is part of an automated service provided by the German Press Agency (dpa), which operates under strict journalistic rules. It is not edited or vetted by AZ Online Editors. Questions and hints please feedback@az-muenchen.de}