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, according to the Ministry of Economy.
Between January 1 and June 18, the German government approved a total of arms exports worth at least 7.48 billion euros ($8.01 billion), a 30% increase over the first half of last year, the ministry revealed in response to a question from legislator Sevim Dağdelen. of the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance.
Around 65% of exports, worth €4.88 billion, went to Ukraine to support the country in its fight against Russia’s large-scale invasion, launched more than two years ago.
In 2023, the German government set a new record for arms exports, according to official data, authorizing sales worth 12.2 billion euros, mainly due to assistance sent to Ukraine.
This year, Saudi Arabia returned to the top five arms importers in several years, after Berlin largely suspended arms exports to the wealthy Gulf state due to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, as well as the involvement of Riyadh in the civil war ravaging Yemen.
Khashoggi was brutally killed at the Saudi consulate general in Istanbul by a hit squad.
Since then, Berlin has again eased restrictions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, after the Saudi kingdom withdrew from hostilities in Yemen.
According to the Economy Ministry, Berlin has granted arms sales worth 132.48 million euros to the country so far this year.
