Germany exports more weapons than ever before

2023-12-28 14:25:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany exports more weapons than ever before

Photo: Xinhua/dpa/picture alliance

The German government approved the export of arms and military equipment worth at least 11.71 billion euros by mid-December 2023. This is a balance of about 25% higher than in the record year 2021, when exports reached 9.35 billion euro, and even 40 percent more than last year and the first year of the current governing coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberals (FDP).

Just over a third of this equipment went to Ukraine - where around 4.15 billion euros worth of weapons and equipment went. At the same time, it was the Greens, then in opposition during Angela Merkel's government, who often asked the question of how many weapons were exported and to whom. Now they are in Scholz's government and have to answer the questions of the MPs about these issues.

Until December 12, 2023, the government approved the export of weapons worth 6.15 billion euros and other military equipment worth 5.57 billion euros. The issue of German weapons ending up in some armed conflicts with dubious intentions is raised again and again. The fact is that almost 90 percent of these exports, with the exception of Ukraine, went to NATO, the EU and allied countries with similar status, such as Japan, Australia or South Korea. Arms have also been exported to Turkey, which is also a member of NATO, but is involved in military campaigns against the Kurds in neighboring Syria and is under heavy criticism in Germany.

Ukraine, Norway, Hungary...

After Ukraine, Norway ranks second in the list of German arms and equipment exports (with 1.2 billion euros). Hungary (1.03 billion), Great Britain (654.9 million), USA (545.4 million) and Poland (327.9 million) follow. Only in seventh place is a country that is not a member of NATO - Israel. However, it must be said that it is 323.2 million euros, a figure ten times higher than in 2022. Most of the exports were approved after the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, and most of the approximately two hundred individual items of refers to air defense components and communication equipment.

Leopard 2

Israel is followed by South Korea (256.4 million), while then come the controversial countries for human rights, such as the United Arab Emirates (78.2 million euros until the end of November this year), Egypt (40.3 million ), Qatar (15.1 million) and Saudi Arabia (13.3 million).

Even the politicians of the ruling coalition are not happy about this record export of German weapons: SPD politician Ralf Stegner assessed that this was "bad news", because it was this coalition and Chancellor Olaf Scholz who wanted to impose even stricter rules and to stop all exports to a country involved in armed conflict.

The government is not satisfied either

However, the reality of today's world is different - especially when it comes to helping Ukraine. As much as Berlin was restrained in granting permits for the export of modern weapons, and especially in the delivery of German tanks of the Leopard 2 type, the expert has nevertheless been allowed after pressure from Kiev and other countries. Tanks and heavy artillery, as well as air defense systems, have been sent.

With this, this governing coalition surpassed all the records of Angela Merkel's government. In the 16 years of her government, the amount of seven billion euros of arms and military equipment exports was exceeded only three times.

The head of environmentalists, Omid Nouripur, says that an even stricter law on the export of weapons should be adopted as soon as possible. The opposition Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), on the other hand, see no problem in these results. In addition, CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter urges this government to finally allow the export of Eurofighter fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. He says that the lack of German exports in this area can only lead to Saudi Arabia leaving the West and buying weapons elsewhere - in China for example, which is eager to enter this market./DW