Anadolu: Germany has sold a record high volume of weapons to EU countries and Ukraine
Germany has set a new record by exporting weapons worth billions of euros, Anadolu reports. Most of the supplies come from the EU and Ukraine. It is noteworthy that at the same time, the German government sought to reduce the export of military equipment and adopt a law on its control.
German exports of arms and other military equipment have broken a record this year, reaching about 11.71 billion euros.
According to the German Press Agency (DPA), the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, responding to a parliamentary request from the Left Party, reported that in 2023 (January 1 – December 12), the government approved the sale of arms and other military equipment worth about 11.71 billion euros.
Thus, Germany has broken the record for the sale of military products this year. The previous record was recorded in 2021: 9.35 billion euros.
According to the department's response, Germany sold the most weapons and military equipment this year to Ukraine, which is in a state of military conflict with Russia. Berlin has approved the supply of weapons and equipment to Kiev for 4.15 billion euros.
German government permits for export to Ukraine apply to Leopard 2 tanks, Patriot air defense systems, Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, ammunition, PzH howitzers, Stinger missiles, hand grenades, helmets, vehicles.
In 2023, the German government approved the sale of weapons worth 6.15 billion euros and other military equipment worth 5.57 billion euros, of which 90% are from the European Union and NATO countries.
In Germany, when it comes to arms export control, Ukraine, Japan, Australia or South Korea are treated in the same way as the states of the North Atlantic Alliance.
It is noteworthy that the German government has allowed the export of weapons worth 1.76 billion euros to other third countries such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement by the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection on November 8, sales of German weapons and other military equipment to Israel increased approximately tenfold in ten months, reaching 303 million euros. In the first few weeks after the start of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the German government approved 185 applications from Israel.
The government has noted the largest export in this area in the country's history
It is also noteworthy that the government that came to power in Germany in 2021 with a promise to impose restrictions on arms exports, marked the highest figures in this regard in the country's history.
Even without Ukraine, the German authorities this year approved the export of military products worth more than seven billion euros. Under the previous government under Angela Merkel, this figure was exceeded only three times.
During the coalition negotiations in Germany, the German government, under pressure from the Greens and the Social Democratic Party, actually sought to reduce arms exports and adopt a control law for this purpose.
The government, formed by the Greens, the Social Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party, was aimed at preventing the export of weapons and passing an appropriate law.
It was reported that the Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection, led by the Greens, is working on a law to strengthen arms export controls and ensure greater transparency.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has pushed Germany to make a historic change in its military approach, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declaring after the conflict began that his country was committed to NATO's goal of 2% of GDP defense spending.
Calling the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine a "turning point," Scholz announced an additional fund of one hundred billion euros to adequately equip the Bundeswehr with modern weapons.
It is expected that data on German arms exports for the whole year will be released in early January.
Author: Bahattin Gönültaş