German arms exports could reach a new peak this year. By the end of September, export licenses increased by 75 percent to 6.35 billion euros compared to the same period of the previous year. Thus, the export volume is approaching the previous record values of 2015 and 2016 of 7.86 and 6.85 billion euros, respectively.
The figures for the first three quarters are based on a response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to a request by Green MEP Omid Nouripour, the news agency dpa present.
Already by the half of the year, export permits, at 5.3 billion euros, exceeded those of the previous year, which allowed exports worth 4.8 billion euros. Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) had declared that with the long hanging part in the government formation after the 2017 election. As a result, a decision jam was created and the jump so "only seemingly surprising," he said.
Hungary before Egypt
By far the most exports were approved with 1.77 billion euros for the EU and NATO partner Hungary. The local right-wing government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is currently massively upgrading and wants to double defense spending.
more on the subject
This is followed by Egypt's contribution to the Saudi Arabia-led war coalition in Yemen, which is worth 802 million euros. With the United Arab Emirates (UAE), another country in this alliance fighting against Iran-backed Houthi rebels is among the top ten beneficiary countries. With 206 million euros, the UAE is in ninth place.
Also Algeria and Qatar among the top ten
Meanwhile, however, the UAE have fallen out with Saudi Arabia and announced the withdrawal of their troops from Yemen. In its coalition agreement in March 2018, the Union and the SPD had planned to put a stop to exports to the countries "directly" involved in the Yemen war. Exceptions were allowed. A complete export ban was imposed following the assassination of anti-government journalist Jamal Khashoggi against Saudi Arabia.
Among the ten most important recipient countries for German armaments, along with the UAE and Egypt, are Algeria, at number 7 (238 million euros) and Qatar at number 8 (212 million euros), two other Arab states. In addition, there are four NATO countries in the top ten - alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway - as well as two countries that are treated similarly to NATO countries in terms of arms exports: Australia and South Korea.
Greens criticize exports
In July, after months of struggle, the federal government had also revised and slightly tightened its 20-year-old export guidelines for military equipment. After that, the delivery of small arms to countries outside of NATO and EU is now no longer approved. In addition, the whereabouts of already exported weapons should be more closely controlled.
SPIEGEL TV on the quite legal weapons bazaar - shopping for the war
MIRROR TV
Above all, the SPD invades the coalition on a restrictive approval practice. For Green Party politician Nouripour, however, this is "worth less than hot air" in light of continued deliveries to member countries of the Yemeni war alliance. "It's extremely bitter that today's SPD is making the profits of the defense industry more important than peace," he said.
