Germany approved the shipment of defense equipment to Saudi Arabia

The government approved the export of defense equipment worth 36 million euros to Saudi Arabia today, days after Chancellor Olaf Solz visited the country, which is one of the world’s biggest energy exporters.

According to the document forwarded to the Federal Parliament by the Minister of Economy Robert Hambeck, the governing coalition, for the first time since the beginning of its term, is making use of exemptions to allow the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.

The previous government had stopped the export of weapons systems to the country, due to its involvement on the one hand in the war in Yemen and on the other hand in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

But the ruling coalition will now use the exemption for arms manufactured in cooperation with other countries to approve the sale of spare parts and ammunition for the Eurofighter and Tornado jets for 36 million euros.

As part of a European cooperation program, spare parts for the Airbus A330 aircraft worth at least 1.3 million will also be sold, according to Der Spiegel magazine. In addition to Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain, which a few years ago sold Saudi Arabia fighter jets from joint programs with the other countries, participate in the armament program.

The government’s decision was criticized by Sevim Dagdelen, Die Linke’s foreign policy official: “Apparently someone has lost all inhibitions about arming authoritarian regimes and fueling wars around the world,” said the left-wing politician.

Olaf Solz visited the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia last weekend, accompanied by a large business delegation. In Jeddah, the chancellor met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom, he said, he also discussed the issue of Khashoggi’s assassination in Istanbul. “We discussed all issues related to human rights and civil liberties. And that’s how it should be. You can be sure that nothing was left unsaid,” Mr. Soltz said on his return from Saudi Arabia.

Four years ago, the German government condemned the killing of the Saudi journalist and “will not revise this position,” the chancellery said in a statement before the Gulf trip.

After his meeting with the crown prince, Olaf Solz referred to the long-standing economic and political relations with Saudi Arabia. “It is right and important to discuss the development of the region and the possibilities of economic relations on the ground. Asked then about the possibility of exporting equipment systems to the country, the chancellor had spoken of the “very strict policy” of the German government. “Based on these rules, well-thought-out decisions will continue to be made,” he had stressed, apparently foreshadowing today’s decision. Similar exceptions were decided in 2020 and 2021 by Angela Merkel’s government.

RES-EMP

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