According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, German arms exports have reached a new record level for the second year in a row, mainly due to continued and growing military aid to Ukraine.
Between January 1 and June 18, the German government approved total arms exports worth at least €7.48 billion ($8.01 billion), a 30% increase from the first half of last year, the ministry revealed in response to a question from lawmaker Sevim Dağdelen of the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance.
About 65% of exports, worth €4.88 billion, were destined for Ukraine to support the country in its fight against Russia’s large-scale invasion, which began more than two years ago.
According to official figures, the German government set a new record for arms exports in 2023, authorizing sales worth 12.2 billion euros, mainly thanks to aid to Ukraine.
This year, Saudi Arabia returned to the top five arms importers in several years, after Berlin largely halted arms exports to the wealthy Gulf state over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Riyadh’s involvement in Yemen’s civil war.
Khashoggi was brutally murdered in the Saudi General Consulate in Istanbul by a hit squad.
Berlin has now relaxed restrictions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, after the Saudi kingdom withdrew from hostilities in Yemen.
So far this year, Berlin has allocated 132.48 million euros in arms sales to the country, according to the Ministry of Economy.
