Arms sales in Germany continue to rise

According to news from the German News Agency (DPA), the German Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, responding to a question from the Left Party, announced that the government approved the sale of weapons and military equipment worth 4.62 billion euros in the first half of this year (until June 19).

Thus, the country’s arms exports increased by 12 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

In addition, it was pointed out that the country to which Germany granted the most arms and military equipment export licenses this year is Ukraine, which is at war with Russia as it was last year.

Berlin approved the sale of weapons and equipment worth 1.18 billion euros to kyiv. Last year, German companies were allowed to sell €2.24 billion worth of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in the last year and a half, total arms approvals from Germany to kyiv reached 3.42 billion euros.

German government export permits to Ukraine also cover Leopard 2 and Gepard type anti-aircraft tanks, ammunition, PzH howitzers, stinger missiles, grenades, helmets and vehicles.

UKRAINE IS FOLLOWED BY HUNGARY AND SOUTHERN CYPRUS

Hungary follows with €1.03 billion, followed by Southern Cyprus with €266.6 million, the US with €265.8 million and the UK with €227 million.

The UK was followed by France with €226.8 million, Poland with €92.3 million and Finland with €83.7 million.

Meanwhile, it was striking that the government, which came to power in Germany with a promise to impose restrictions on arms exports in 2021, signed the second-highest export figure in the country’s history in 2022.

THE LAW WAS EXPECTED TO REDUCE ARMS EXPORTS

In the coalition negotiations in Germany, at the behest of the Greens and the Social Democratic Party, the German government intended to reduce arms exports and pass a control law to this end.

The Economy Ministry, led by the Green Party, has been working for more than a year to strengthen the country’s arms export control law and provide more transparency.

In the first comprehensive National Security Strategy announced by Germany on June 15, it was emphasized that the German government wanted to stick to the “promise to impose restrictions on arms exports.” In the strategy document, it was indicated that “human rights, democracy and the rule of law in recipient countries” will be taken into account in decisions made for arms exports.

In the strategy, it was emphasized that the German government “also takes into account alliance and security interests, the geostrategic situation and the requirements for further European arms cooperation.”

As the Russia-Ukraine war led Germany to a historic transformation in its military approach, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that after the start of the war, his country would meet the NATO target of “spending 2 percent of GDP in defense spending”.

Describing Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “turning point”, Scholz announced additional funding of 100 billion euros to adequately equip the armed forces with modern weapons. (AA)