Dhe chairman of the Europe Committee in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter, rejects a possible delivery of armaments to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “There is pressure from the Chancellery that we will deliver 48 Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia and 6 A400Ms to the United Arab Emirates,” the Greens politician told the editorial network Germany. According to the report, the Chancellery in the Federal Security Council is pushing for the export of fighter jets or military transporters. Reference is made to similar practices in partner countries and to the fact that such export licenses are necessary to enable joint armament projects.
“I think that’s fundamentally wrong, as do other Greens. Because we cannot still deny certain weapons to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, and at the same time give state-of-the-art weapons to dictatorships and autocracies,” said Hofreiter.
Humanitarian and geostrategic concerns
Saudi Arabia had already used German weapons ruthlessly against civilians in the Yemen war, and the United Arab Emirates had supported warlords. But there are not only humanitarian reasons that speak against such arms deliveries, but also geostrategic ones. Because the United Arab Emirates supported General Khalifa Haftar in Libya, who in turn was supported by the Russian Wagner mercenaries, and the insurgent militias in Sudan. “Neither is in the German interest,” said Hofreiter. He expects Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) that this plan will not be pursued.
The Eurofighter is produced in Great Britain, Germany contributes components and therefore has to approve an export. France is involved in the Airbus product A400M.
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