Angela Merkel puts on hold arms sales to Saudi Arabia

[The Ronin]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will stop exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia, at least for the time being. The decision comes in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that Germany would put arms exports to the kingdom on hold for the time being, given the unexplained circumstances of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death.

The chancellor said Riyadh had not put the full facts of Khashoggi's demise "on the table."

"First, we condemn this act in the strongest terms," she told a press conference after speaking to members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"Second, there is an urgent need to clarify what happened — we are far from this having been cleared up and those responsible held to account.

"Thirdly, I agree with all those who say that the, albeit already limited, arms exports can't take place in the current circumstances," she said.

Pressure from within

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, a member of the Social Democrats — the junior partner of Merkel's conservatives in the ruling grand coalition — had already called for weapons exports to the kingdom to be halted.

A clause already exists in the coalition agreement signed by Germany's governing parties, saying that no weapons exports may be approved to any country "directly" involved in the war in Yemen, such as Saudi Arabia. However, the agreement does exempt countries that had made weapons deals with Germany before the current government took power.

Merkel said Germany would discuss further "reactions" to the case with its international partners.

On Saturday, the chancellor said the Saudi explanation for Khashoggi's death was insufficient— and that those responsible for the killing "must be held accountable."

Germany is the fourth largest exporter of weapons to Saudi Arabia after the United States, Britain and France.

Body not located

Merkel's comments came after Saudi Arabia's foreign minister described the killing of Khashoggi as part of a "rogue operation," adding that the circumstances of his death — and the whereabouts of the body — were unknown.

The Saudis have said Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed in a "fistfight" at its consulate in Istanbul, having previously insisted that he had left the building. Khashoggi had been at the diplomatic office to seek paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.

Turkish officials say he was murdered — and his body dismembered — and that they have audio and video evidence.

Trump not keen on arms embargo

Last month, Germany approved €416 million ($480 million) worth of military exports to Saudi Arabia for 2018. In the past, such exports have mostly consisted of patrol boats.

Amid calls across the world for arms embargoes against Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump has said his country would be "punishing itself" if it halted weapons sales to the country.

"There are other things we can do that are very, very powerful, very strong and we'll do them," Trump said on Saturday, without elaborating.

The US president has repeatedly said he does not want to stop a proposed $110 billion arms sale to the Saudis because too many US jobs depend on it.

rc/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)

https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel...dxlDfdNN4IUu2NFmXo7QtUk8kiTSfLO2vNbEgy1m94Dfg

 

[Ali_Baba]

Will their frenchie friends follow and also suspend sales to Saudia Arabia aswell ?

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Lol Saudi Arabia is Also dependent on U.S.A. If U.S.A just stop their spare parts then their 70% military stuff will become obsolete in no time.
As K.S.A is getting eurofighters, if Germany stop this, then more problems for Saudi Arabia.

While U.S.A and Germany can find big market in India. They can have Good alternative for military sales.

 

[fitpOsitive]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will stop exporting weapons to Saudi Arabia, at least for the time being. The decision comes in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that Germany would put arms exports to the kingdom on hold for the time being, given the unexplained circumstances of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death.

The chancellor said Riyadh had not put the full facts of Khashoggi's demise "on the table."

"First, we condemn this act in the strongest terms," she told a press conference after speaking to members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"Second, there is an urgent need to clarify what happened — we are far from this having been cleared up and those responsible held to account.

"Thirdly, I agree with all those who say that the, albeit already limited, arms exports can't take place in the current circumstances," she said.

Pressure from within

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, a member of the Social Democrats — the junior partner of Merkel's conservatives in the ruling grand coalition — had already called for weapons exports to the kingdom to be halted.

A clause already exists in the coalition agreement signed by Germany's governing parties, saying that no weapons exports may be approved to any country "directly" involved in the war in Yemen, such as Saudi Arabia. However, the agreement does exempt countries that had made weapons deals with Germany before the current government took power.

Merkel said Germany would discuss further "reactions" to the case with its international partners.

On Saturday, the chancellor said the Saudi explanation for Khashoggi's death was insufficient— and that those responsible for the killing "must be held accountable."

Germany is the fourth largest exporter of weapons to Saudi Arabia after the United States, Britain and France.

Body not located

Merkel's comments came after Saudi Arabia's foreign minister described the killing of Khashoggi as part of a "rogue operation," adding that the circumstances of his death — and the whereabouts of the body — were unknown.

The Saudis have said Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed in a "fistfight" at its consulate in Istanbul, having previously insisted that he had left the building. Khashoggi had been at the diplomatic office to seek paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.

Turkish officials say he was murdered — and his body dismembered — and that they have audio and video evidence.

Trump not keen on arms embargo

Last month, Germany approved €416 million ($480 million) worth of military exports to Saudi Arabia for 2018. In the past, such exports have mostly consisted of patrol boats.

Amid calls across the world for arms embargoes against Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump has said his country would be "punishing itself" if it halted weapons sales to the country.

"There are other things we can do that are very, very powerful, very strong and we'll do them," Trump said on Saturday, without elaborating.

The US president has repeatedly said he does not want to stop a proposed $110 billion arms sale to the Saudis because too many US jobs depend on it.

rc/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)

https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel...dxlDfdNN4IUu2NFmXo7QtUk8kiTSfLO2vNbEgy1m94Dfg

After Germany, comes China. No worries, many others will be more than willing to sale similar ones.

 

[delta2]

The KSA defence officials should visit China and Russia for a two-week holiday vacation.

In a world where only money talks, and of which the KSA has a lot, like a lot a lot, everything is irrelevant except the money itself.

 

[Nein]

For China and Russia this is a gold mine. I can see why the USA does not want to give up the 100 billion dollar deal.

 

[Oublious]

For China and Russia this is a gold mine. I can see why the USA does not want to give up the 100 billion dollar deal.

Well who is going to protect ther ***? China and Russia together won't help them falling. People are talking like they are buying from a store, ksa is not only buying weapons but protection ahahah. They will never let go americans.

 

[Alpha BeeTee]

Actions speak louder than..

 

[Nein]

Well who is going to protect ther ***? China and Russia together won't help them falling. People are talking like they are buying from a store, ksa is not only buying weapons but protection ahahah. They will never let go americans.

Saudis have themselves to blame for that if you rely on another country for your defence this is the result.

Saudis could have made their own defence system and reform their army. Instead relied on foreign help.

There will be a time where nobody will come to save their asses.

 

[delta2]

Well who is going to protect ther ***? China and Russia together won't help them falling. People are talking like they are buying from a store, ksa is not only buying weapons but protection ahahah. They will never let go americans.

Why would they fall? And who would be rooting for their fall?

The KSA has too many options but they pushed themselves into a corner. They should have reacted to President Trump's ramblings like they reacted to the Canadian minister's comments.

Even now the KSA has time. They can quietly tell the USA that if this issue is not dropped diplomatic ties will be reduced or ended. The KSA can wreck havoc on international markets. They need to flex their financial muscle.

The USA is a superpower but it is no longer the USA of the past. They have lost two wars back to back and got check mated by Russia in Syria, even though Syria was destroyed but that is a different issue.

Use the KSA lobby in the USA like they did in the past. Learn a thing or two from the AIPAC and start funding opponents of those who are posturing against you. The midterm elections are around the corner in the USA.

The senate and the congress is up for grabs by the highest bidder.

 

[The SC]

And what weapons is Germany selling to KSA!? A few coast guard small boats..almost half of them already delivered..

 

[Tiberius]

I find it amusing that nobody seems to bother here on what level Saudi Arabia has fallen. Its known to be barbaric but this is something not even Kim Jong Un would do.

 

[Ali_Baba]

I find it amusing that nobody seems to bother here on what level Saudi Arabia has fallen. Its known to be barbaric but this is something not even Kim Jong Un would do.

Kim Jong Un killed his own half brother!

 

[Oublious]

Why would they fall? And who would be rooting for their fall?

The KSA has too many options but they pushed themselves into a corner. They should have reacted to President Trump's ramblings like they reacted to the Canadian minister's comments.

Even now the KSA has time. They can quietly tell the USA that if this issue is not dropped diplomatic ties will be reduced or ended. The KSA can wreck havoc on international markets. They need to flex their financial muscle.

The USA is a superpower but it is no longer the USA of the past. They have lost two wars back to back and got check mated by Russia in Syria, even though Syria was destroyed but that is a different issue.

Use the KSA lobby in the USA like they did in the past. Learn a thing or two from the AIPAC and start funding opponents of those who are posturing against you. The midterm elections are around the corner in the USA.

The senate and the congress is up for grabs by the highest bidder.

KSA have no lobby but money, and money you can't buy everything. KSA can show muscle but will be hit harder back.

 

[delta2]

KSA have no lobby but money, and money you can't buy everything. KSA can show muscle but will be hit harder back.

I disagree. The KSA lobby is present but is not as active as it should be, at least at the level of AIPAC.

The KSA lobby has up to this point assumed that the interests of the KSA will be guarded and protected no matter what, since the KSA is literally the 51st state of the USA.

This event might be a sever shock for the Saudis. I think they will go back to the drawing board and rethink their strategies for the region.

Money is everything in this world my friend. The only thing that matters after money is how many bombs you have and how big they are.

The KSA is at a turning point now. They can either make the right choice or be left to the dogs.

For example, Pakistan has all the bombs needed and more. But the government is short on cash. Had Pakistan had the money along with the bombs, Pakistan would be carrying a much heavier punch.