Germany Concludes Major Naval Arms Package to Egypt

Egypt boosts its naval power after Germany agreed to sell naval equipment to Cairo amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Germany agreed Nov. 2 to sell naval equipment to Egypt, including nine patrol boats and a coastal defense ship, according to a letter by German Minister of Economy Peter Altmaier addressed to the economic committee in the German parliament, according to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur(DPA).

The boat deal, estimated at € 130 million   (about $155 million), was concluded in 2018 by the German boat manufacturer Lürssen, and it was most likely destined initially for Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Monitor.

Hussein Haridi, the former assistant to the foreign minister, told Al-Monitor, “Nobody cares about this criticism, not even the German government."

The  sole purpose of those who criticize  Egypt  is to distract it and interfere with its policy in the region.”

Mohammed Hegazy, former Egyptian ambassador to Germany, said that the deal is a further proof of the deep Egyptian-German relations as well as Germany government’s realization that Egypt is a key stability factor in the Middle East.

"Consequently, beefing up its military capacities falls within this context," he told Al-Monitor.

Hegazy said, “Egypt plays a key role in maintaining the security and stability of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and fighting terrorism and illegal migration.

"These issues are a key interest in Europe. Therefore, Germany continues to be a partner that Egypt is proud of.”

Egypt ranked first on the list of countries with the highest demand for German weapons and military equipment during the first quarter of 2020, with purchases reaching 290.6 million euros (about $345 million), according to the German Ministry of Economy.

Mohammed Soliman, a senior associate at McLarty Associates, a strategic advisory firm based in Washington, told Al-Monitor via e-mail, “The deal is part of Egypt's strategy to persify defense suppliers and be less reliant on the US.”