Germany Resumes Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

On Wednesday, Germany announced its approval of a missile sale to Saudi Arabia, lifting a long-standing ban on arms exports to Riyadh.

The spokesperson for the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, confirmed to reporters that the government had given the green light at the end of 2023 for the sale of "Iris-T" missiles to Saudi Arabia, following a report by "Der Spiegel" magazine.

Last Sunday, the German Foreign Ministry announced its readiness to allow new sales of "Eurofighter" fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, as the German veto had obstructed a previously signed contract in this regard years ago.

During her visit to Israel, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told the press that the Federal German government "does not oppose British considerations" regarding the sale of more Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

Baerbock emphasized the "constructive role" played by Riyadh in the ongoing security crisis in the region since the "Operation Al-Aqsa Tempest" launched by Hamas against Israel on October 7.

Germany had frozen arms sales to Riyadh since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in late 2018.