The Federal government must decide by the end of the week, whether you are supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia. Paris and London put on the pressure. But, the Federal government hesitates.
All is well between Germany and France. Federal foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) is committed early on Wednesday, in Berlin anyway, to give exactly this impression. He could not recall that there had been something once: A member of the government from Paris takes part in the German Cabinet meeting, part of – as on this day France’s foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Now both leaders are in the atrium of the Federal foreign office, the limousines are already waiting to bring both to the Chancellery of the German government meeting. Maas says: “With this visit, it is clear that the German-French friendship alive, but in a very good shape.” And Le Drian adds politely that he had exchanged with Maas “very successfully on many topics.”
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his colleague from Paris, Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday in Berlin
A undiplomatic Ambassador
If it were not for the dispute over arms exports. France and the UK are upset because Germany is reluctant in the case of joint projects, especially if it is Arabia, is Saudi. Completely and utterly undiplomatic and has brought the beginning of the week, the French Ambassador in Berlin, Anne-Marie Descôtes to the point. In the case of the German “Federal Academy for security and safety issues” published a Text in which she described how French defence firms to reorient themselves at the moment – a production without the German parts.
A clear message to Germany: Anne-Marie Descôtes
The reason is the “unpredictability” of the German armaments policy. Combat aircraft and main battle tanks will want to build both countries together and sell, with German Parts, such as seals and ball bearings which can not currently be supplied. Another example: Saudi Arabia has ordered 48 combat aircraft Eurofighter. Most of the parts come from the UK, but Germany is building the Central fuselage piece, a proportion of the total production, 30 per cent. But this must currently be delivered.
The CDU, CSU and SPD argue for months
The reason is the inner-German dispute over Arms to Saudi Arabia. The since November on ice, after the murder of the government-critical journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Once the stop until the end of March, so by the end of this week. On Wednesday a top secret Advisory Committee met on this topic in Berlin, the Federal security Council. The Chancellor has the presidency, the most important Ministers, including the Minister of defence, the Foreign and the Minister of economy. In the run-up to the two warring coalition partners had staked out their positions:
The SPD wants to extend the Export ban to six months. The CDU and especially the Chancellor want to reach out to the disgruntled partners in London and Paris, and the exports, again, approve.
“We have clear arms export policies”
Last week Angela Merkel warned in the Bundestag in front of “German Arrogance” in this topic. On Wednesday, the slugfest went on among the parties in government. In the ARD, the SPD said a foreign expert, Rolf Mützenich, who has spoken out repeatedly for another armor stop: “It may be that the Union is willing to come here again, loose terms and conditions ultimately. We think that is wrong. We have clear laws, we have military equipment export policies, and in particular in voltage, no weapons may be supplied territories.”
The CDU foreign policy expert, Jürgen Hardt, however, showed understanding for the anger in Paris: “We must also in the arms export the views in question to take our partners seriously and then to come together with you, common solutions, we are reliable. Otherwise no one will want to work together with us to develop armaments.”
A possible way out
The SPD also relies on the coalition agreement, which defines that in countries that are “directly” involved in the war in Yemen, weapons are delivered. And the are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, there are exceptions for previously approved projects. A way out could be: An arms export does not fall under the strict German export permits, if the German share exceeds a certain quota. A bit of Export.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, this patrol boat for Saudi Arabia waiting for the end of the armor stop
For the external expert of the Greens in the Bundestag, Omid Nouripour also goes too far. He says the DW: “The resumption of arms exports to Saudi Arabia would be in view of the ongoing war in Yemen a fatal foreign policy Signal, and a contribution to the further destabilization in the Middle East. We need a common European policy on arms exports, the exports to war zones to exclude.” The result of the secret meeting of the Federal security Council, a government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, as usual, wanted to say nothing: “If there is something to communicate, then it will reach you,” said Seibert, referring to the journalists. In other words: Still no decision.