The federal government had imposed restraint: After the murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggivor a year ago, the GroKo decided, mainly due to pressure from the SPD, a supply stop for weapons to Saudi Arabia. Even countries in the Middle East such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which fought in a coalition with the Saudis in Yemen, were initially no war equipment Made in Germany more.
At least with regard to the Emirates, this tough attitude has changed in the federal government: The Federal Security Council has recently allowed to SPIEGEL information to provide technical components for a missile defense system to UAE. But the delivery stop to Saudi Arabia remains, to the chagrin of companies such as the armaments division of Airbus.
Airbus Defense Chief Dirk Hoke wishes the Federal Government to further soften its stance on arms exports: "I believe we will not change the system in Saudi Arabia with a delivery stop," the Airbus manager told SPIEGEL. You need a critical dialogue with the kingdom to influence the progress of things, says Hoke.
The delivery stop, which the Federal Government had recently extended, also weighed on the planned cooperation in the development of a combat aircraft and a battle tank between France and Germany. The issue of future export of such arms products is currently causing strife between the two countries. "The French would consider it an affront if they were no longer allowed to supply markets like the Gulf region because of a German veto," said Hoke.
The topic will be discussed next week after SPIEGEL information at a meeting between German and French Defense Ministers Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Florence Parly. Both countries want to resolve their dissent in armaments cooperation projects and arms exports by 16 October. Then a ministerial meeting will take place in Toulouse, to which French President Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel will travel.
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