Export ban overturned: Germany supplies Saudi Arabia with 150 air-to-air missiles

Export ban overturned
Germany is supplying Saudi Arabia with 150 air-to-air missiles

January 10, 2024, 2:06 p.m

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The federal government is lifting the self-imposed ban on exporting military equipment to Saudi Arabia. The German arms industry is allowed to deliver 150 Iris-T air-to-air guided missiles to the desert state.

The federal government has approved arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed in Berlin a report by “Spiegel” that 150 Iris-T air-to-air guided missiles were being exported.

This is the first time in a long time that the federal government has approved the export of German military equipment to Riyadh. In November 2018, the then ruling grand coalition imposed an export ban; The reason for this was Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen war and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Armament components from joint projects with alliance partners were excluded, including the Eurofighter fighter jet exported to Saudi Arabia by the British company BAE Systems. Saudi Arabia operates 72 of them. They can be armed with the now approved Iris-T missiles. The resumption of bilateral arms deals represents a departure from Berlin’s restrictive course towards Riyadh.

At its most recent meeting before Christmas, the Federal Security Council not only approved missiles for Riyadh. He also gave the green light to a submarine from the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems shipyard that Israel has ordered. Pakistan will also receive three MJ 333 class minehunters from the Bundeswehr; the boats had previously been decommissioned and were handed over without weapons. In addition, 300 shoulder-mounted RGW90 anti-tank weapons worth around 1.9 million euros will go to Georgia.