Despite Vowing Not To, Germany Okays Weapons Sale To Saudi Arabia

[Zarvan]

Saudi soldiers fire artillery toward three armed vehicles approaching the Saudi border with Yemen in Jazan (Image: TRT World)

Germany has approved the delivery of four artillery positioning systems for Saudi Arabian armored vehicles despite a commitment not to export arms to countries fighting Yemen war.

The decision to greenlight the export order was given by Economy Minister Peter Altmaier in a letter he provided to a parliamentary committee. The mounted radars can locate the origin of enemy fire and enable precise counter-strikes, Deutsche Welle German Radio reported Thursday.

Earlier this year, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the Social Democrats agreed in their coalition deal not to sell weapons to any side fighting in Yemen's civil war. The agreement excluded already approved exports, so long as they stay in the recipient country.

The Federal Security Council, which includes several ministers alongside Merkel, also authorized the export of 48 warheads and 91 homing heads for ship-based air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates.

A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was ousted by Houthi rebels. The military coalition also imposes a naval blockade.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has unleashed a massive humanitarian crisis and threatened millions of people with starvation. Saudi and Emirati forces have been accused of human rights abuses and possible war crimes.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/23...ays_Weapons_Sale_to_Saudi_Arabia#.W6O8I-gzZPY

 

[Thorough Pro]

Germans are stupid, letting yanks get all those dollars

 

[Sinnerman108]

German engineering.
Respect.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

It has no importance for KSA at all. Germany is not needed. Never was. The ship sailed ages ago unless they can/will offer JV's that the country simply cannot allow to refuse which is highly doubtful to put it mildly.

Almost all joint ventures have been given to the usual suspects (USA, France, UK, Spain, South Korea, Ukraine etc.).

Germany is about 5-10 years late to the party. Albeit they might want to join the Saudi Vision 2030. At least economically, as per the German ambassador to KSA.

Let them sell weapons to their beloved Mullah regime instead.

Germans are stupid, letting yanks get all those dollars

The Yanks have had a several billion big trade deficit with KSA each year for 3-4 decades (!) and Germany cannot even offer 10% of what the US can offer to KSA as a whole package.

5% military wise.

Germany is not the Germany of the old. They are a castrated version of what "once was".