Despite the general arms export ban for all parties to the Yemen war, the German government has again approved German arms deliveries to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Economic Affairs informed the heads of the Bundestag that the secret Security Council had approved the delivery of Jenoptik generators for the American anti-aircraft system "Patriot". The anti-aircraft batteries themselves are manufactured in the US and sold internationally, Jenoptik is involved as a German subcontractor in the "Patriot" program.
In addition to the approval for the Emirates, the federal government blessed according to the list of economic responsibility also a delivery to Algeria from, go there spare parts packages for already delivered transport tanks. Deals with the North African country have been controversial for years due to the precarious human rights situation. The government, however, sees Algeria as a strategic partner in the fight against international terrorism.
The approval for the UAE should fuel the discussion about the German line on arms exports. Because of the brutal action of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates in the war against the Houthi rebels, the coalition of the Union and SPD had already decided in the coalition agreement a general supply stop for all warring parties, especially for Saudi Arabia and the UAE. After the murder of the Saudi regime critic Jamal Kashoggi in Istanbul a year ago, the line was tightened once again.
Within the Federal Government, according to SPIEGEL information, in recent months, after long discussions, a reassessment has been made of the position vis-à-vis the Emirates. The ministries involved argue that the Emirates are slowly withdrawing from the Yemen conflict and that the government in Abu Dhabi is actively supporting a political solution to the bloody conflict.
In addition, Berlin has been under considerable pressure in recent months. For one thing, emissaries from the Emirates kept pressing for a relaxation of the embargo against the oil-rich desert state. There they never really understood why the UAE was stopped in one step with Saudi Arabia. Similarly, the US pushed not to delay the delivery of American "Patriot" systems.
France, too, had complained about the harsh attitude of the German government because important French arms exports could not take place because of the lack of German parts. In a remarkable guest contribution, the French ambassador to the government in the high phase of the Zoff had even accused unreliability.
UAE says they do not use the system in Yemen
Only a few weeks ago, the federal government extended the general stop of supply for Saudi Arabia. However, in the small print of the Cabinet decision, there is a formula that allows deliveries of German components for internationally developed weapons systems. Berlin can now rely on this formulation when approving the parts for the "Patriot" system.
As a reason for the current decision on the part of the Federal Government also stated that the air defense systems to be delivered not only for the protection of the Emirates but also served by there allies such as the United States served. Abu Dhabi also has a guarantee that the batteries will only be used in the Emirates and not in the Yemen conflict.
Already in April, the federal government had made a first exception to the general supply stop, at that time the delivery of German accessories for artillery positioning radar systems of the type "Cobra" was approved in the UAE, which originate from German-French production. In addition, there were software updates for the systems that are already stationed in the emirate.
The Greens attacked the current decision. "The UAE are a war party in Yemen, there are still in conflict with Saudi Arabia and support the militia leader Haftar in Libya," said the Bundestag MP Katja Keul the SPIEGEL. According to Keul, whoever supplies military equipment in this situation "has lost any value compass and violates both the German principles and the EU common position".