The ban on Exports of German weapons to Saudi Arabia remains in place for a further six months. German parts for European weapons may be re-supplied. A Back Door?
The model of the European combat aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon at an air show in Dubai
It is a compromise, the irritation triggers The Export of German arms to Saudi Arabia is prohibited, German parts of European weapons may be re-supplied. The decision by the Federal government late Thursday night has taken. The open leave a back door, through the German and European weapons in Yemen, the war could land, criticise opposition politicians. In Yemen, operating charities loopholes to fear “” for the supply of arms. Germany had to comply with its obligations to the European partners, argue, in contrast, the ruling Christian Democrats. Otherwise, you can forget about the cooperation in the EU.
Export stop since November
Recently France and Britain have reacted with growing Anger to the prohibition of German arms exports to Saudi Arabia. The Export ban was imposed by the Federal government after the murder of the government is critical of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last November, and has since been extended several times.
Also affected were parts of Germany, for the European fighter aircraft “Eurofighter”. Its production in the UK was brought to a Halt – much to the displeasure of the allies and of the companies involved. They threatened with lawsuits for damages. Within the Federal government, especially the CDU and the CSU insisted on the export stop. The social Democrats insisted on an extension.
The SPD Minister Heiko Maas (Outside) and Olaf Scholz (Finance) in addition to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
With your compromise, the Federal government is sending conciliatory signals to the Partner: it allows the Export of German components to European manufacturers, even if subject to conditions: These weapon systems will not be extradited to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen war to be used.
“The Federal government will work in consultation with our partners to ensure that the jointly produced military goods in Yemen-war,” it says literally in the decision. The parties should, in turn, are due to the contract partners to the fact that “none of the assembled military equipment to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be delivered”.
In Yemen, the war is fought with German weapons
According to the findings of the research group for #GermanArms German weapons by both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to be used in Yemen-war, about the weapons station, “Fewas” from the German manufacturer Dynamit Nobel, built in Germany, warships and combat aircraft Eurofighter. To the research, the Deutsche Welle was involved.
Although the Federal government had pledged in its coalition agreement, not to supply weapons to more countries, “the war are directly involved in the Yemen,” had granted new export licences to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the artillery were Ortungsradare, the United Arab Emirates were warheads for ship-based air defense systems. Only after the murder of Jamal Kashogghi no further permits were issued and the delivery stopped.
A combat vehicle with attached Fewas weapons station from German production in the vicinity of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida
Allies supply in Saudi Arabia
What is the decision of the Federal government means well for the Eurofighter, Saudi Arabia 48 the British government has ordered, remains unclear. The same applies to the European air-to-air missile “Meteor”, which is also on the shopping list of the Saudis. The criticism of the allies had not referred precisely to the fact that these weapons built, and then to Saudi Arabia can be delivered.
The criteria according to which the UK or France decide such exports are not necessarily those of the Federal government. So Meteor missile, by Definition, were not intended “to be used for ground attack, but only for air defense,” argues the French government. Therefore, it is also safe for civilians, so it’s not an impediment for Export to Saudi Arabia. The government in London makes no secret of the fact that the personnel of the British air force, Saudi Arabia assisted in the maintenance of fighter aircraft, which were built in the UK – such as the Eurofighter.
State aid for Peene-Werft
For purely German weapons, the Federal government maintains its ban on Exports for a further six months. In the meanwhile, closely intertwined markets for larger armaments, the are the least, but on the patrol boats of the company Lürssen. 15 of these boats to get Saudi Arabia already, more are on order. These were not already in construction or already finished, delivered you could be. It is now up to at least 30. September. About the economic losses, the government of the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, which is in accordance with the delivery stop had just logged in to work.