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A Saudi-backed Yemeni government soldier
Photo: STRINGER/ REUTERS
For many years, Saudi Arabia was considered a good customer of German weapons.
In 2018, however, Berlin imposed a freeze on arms deliveries - due to the kingdom's involvement in the Yemen war.
The export ban is now expiring, and the federal government wants to make a new decision this month on how things will continue for Saudi Arabia.
According to a response from the Federal Ministry of Economics to a request from left-wing MP Sevim Dağdelen, the regulation for the kingdom that has been in place since 2018 will run until June 30th.
A further extension is currently being examined, according to the letter from State Secretary Udo Philipp, which is available to the dpa news agency.
According to this, the government of the SPD, Greens and FDP did not allow a single export of armaments to Saudi Arabia in the first half of their term.
The previous government of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) ordered the stop of arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia in November 2018 and extended it several times.
The main reason is Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Yemen war.
The authoritarian kingdom is leading a war alliance fighting alongside the government in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The war has led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, spreading disease and famine.
Saudi shelling repeatedly hits the Yemeni civilian population.
»Be more consistent than the former chancellor«
The new traffic light government also extended the export ban, but initially only for half a year.
The existing regulation still provides for exceptions: parts may be supplied for joint products in order not to block armaments projects with NATO partners such as France or Great Britain.
For example, parts for a planned delivery of the “Eurofighter” fighter jet to Saudi Arabia could be contributed from Germany.
On this basis, the former federal government of SPD and Union continued to issue arms export licenses for Saudi Arabia.
In the 18 months between January 2020 and June 2021 alone, there were 57 permits worth a total of 32.7 million euros.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the traffic light government did not issue a single export license until June 7th.
Dağdelen called on the coalition to continue exporting no armaments to Saudi Arabia.
"The traffic light government should be more consistent than the former Chancellor Angela Merkel and actually stop all arms exports to Saudi Arabia, including the export of German components for fighter jets, which are produced with European partners and continue to be cheerfully delivered to the head-to-head dictatorship in Riyadh .«
mrc/dpa
