Germany approves €44.2 million arms shipments to Riyadh in 2022

The German government has approved €44.2 million worth of arms shipments to Saudi Arabia in 2022 - as much as has not been delivered since 2018, despite severe export restrictions.

The statement came from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection in a response to a corresponding request by the MP from the Left Party, Sevim Dagdelen, published by the DPA on March 13, TASS reports.

According to the minister, the matter exclusively concerns exports for joint projects with other EU or NATO countries. A total of 48 approvals have been issued for Saudi Arabia. Of the total exports €7.1 million is for military weapons, €37.1 million is for other weapons. These include deliveries of Tornado and Eurofighter fighters, which are manufactured in the UK. In addition, the German government allowed the US to export components for warships to Saudi Arabia for €40.8 million, which originally came from Germany.

Before the change of government in Germany in 2021, 30 export licences worth €2.52 million were granted to Saudi Arabia despite a massive arms export ban. In 2020, 51 permits worth €30.75 million were granted. In 2019, it was €0.8 million for special licences for joint projects with alliance partners. The current ruling coalition “traffic light” in Germany increased the number of export permits to €44.2 million in 2022.

Germany suspended arms sales to Saudi Arabia in November 2018 over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Exceptions only apply to joint projects between NATO member states and Riyadh.