Germany Doubles Weapons Exports to Arabian Gulf

[WillEase666 Profile]

German weapons exports to Arabian Gulf countries more than doubled in 2012 compared to a year earlier, according to a major German newspaper. Opposition parties have criticized German exports to the tense region.

The value of weapons exports to countries in the Gulf region rose to 1,42 billion euros ($1.88 billion) last year, according to a report published in Friday's edition of the Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

In 2011, Germany exported just 570 million euros worth of military hardware to the six nations that belong to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

Military exports to Saudi Arabia are politically controversial in Germany, due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

German military exports are subject to approval by a special committee of the Bundestag parliament, the Federal Security Council. It comprises Chancellor Angela Merkel and eight cabinet ministers, and meets behind closed doors.

According to Friday's report, in which the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) cited the German Economy Ministry, by far the biggest increase in German security hardware exports was to Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 1.24 billion euros in 2012.

This was by far the highest value of weapons exports from Germany and around nine times the value sold to Saudi Arabia one year earlier.

Of this, Saudi Arabia spent around 1.1 billion euros on hardware meant for use in securing its borders, according to the newspaper report.

http://www.dw.de/german-military-hardwa ... a-16620551

[WillEase666 Profile]

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is looking into buying patrol boats worth 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) from a German firm, and appears to have won the Berlin government's approval despite widespread public criticism of arms deals, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Arab kingdom was exploring a deal to buy the ships, each costing between 10 and 25 million euros, from Bremen-based dockyard Luerssen, Bild am Sonntag newspaper said.

Arms exports are a sensitive issue in Germany given the country's Nazi past and the role arms makers like Krupp played in fuelling numerous 19th and 20th century wars.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... 3P20130210

[Flecktarn Profile]

they produce good quality equipment ,and if it was not them it would be someone else trying to get a bit of the pie , France was a big exporter to Arabian states at one time ,but there equipment is not as good as the German kit

[WillEase666 Profile]

they produce good quality equipment ,and if it was not them it would be someone else trying to get a bit of the pie , France was a big exporter to Arabian states at one time ,but there equipment is not as good as the German kit

This may be true, but you're missing the point.
The purpose of the Potsdam conference after WWII was to put an end for all time the German military machine so that it could no longer threaten the world...that didn't last long.
http://history.state.gov/milestones/193 ... otsdamConf

What most people aren't considering is if Germany can produce the worlds third largest arms exports, it can certainly produce military arms for itself...rapidly. This fact should make European people cringe, if not the world.

[Scouser012 Profile]

I don't even think Germany have any military restrictions any more do they?

The Germans paid heavily for both world wars, you can't punish them forever because of their past.

[Perronick Profile]

They have been encouraged to get more ..."involved", I think that was the euphemism of choice of some British fat cat precisely, if I recall correctly.

[WillEase666 Profile]

They have been encouraged to get more ..."involved", I think that was the euphemism of choice of some British fat cat precisely, if I recall correctly.

I seem to remember hearing that as well. Fact is Germany is becoming more involved in foreign affairs while at the same time the USA is withdrawing...ominous sign.