Germany's Armaments Approval Saga with Turkey and Other Countries
The German government's approval for arms exports to its NATO ally, Turkey, has been scant this year. By the December 3rd tally, the traffic light coalition only approved 17 applications worth a total of 1.22 million euros. War weapon exports were completely vetoed. This information is a revelation from the Ministry of Economics in response to a query posed by MP Sevim Dagdelen, a member of Sahra Wagenknecht's alliance, held by the German Press Agency.
Turkey's arms import history from Germany had seen a significant downshift following the failed military coup in 2016 and the subsequent Turkish invasion of Syria. Prior to these events, the German government had supported major-scale arms exports to Turkey, including the delivery of submarine components, which weighed heavier on Greece's critics.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, however, has now endorsed cooperation projects, deliveries to NATO, and the export of detection, decontamination, and communication equipment alongside hunting weapons to Turkey. That being said, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan articulated his aspiration for stronger collaborations in the defense sector during his visit to Olaf Scholz, the German Federal Chancellor, in November.
Erdogan pointed out the necessity of Germany’s decisive steps relating to armaments, industry, and exports. Turkey seeks to buy 40 Eurofighter fighter jets, co-produced by Germany, although there is no green light yet.
Germany's goodwill towards arms exports saw an improvement for Saudi Arabia (approximately 13.26 million euros), Egypt (40.31 million euros), Qatar (15.06 million euros), and the United Arab Emirates (78.24 million euros). Dagdelen denounced this development, terming it a moral disclosure, remarking that the Ampel leadership has no place in a restrictive arms export policy.
German Defense Industry Regulations
The German government oversees defense industry regulations through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi). The German Press Agency discloses reports and updates about government approvals for various countries.
Incorporated Enrichment Data:
Germany's arms export regulations have undergone numerous changes in response to geopolitical conditions and regional conflicts. Here's a brief summary of the current policies and authorizations:
Current Armaments Export Policies
- 2024's Boost: In 2024, Germany approved armaments exports of military equipment and weapons worth 13.33 billion euros ($13.8 billion). The majority of these exports were directed to Ukraine, totaling 8.15 billion euros, due to the ongoing conflict with Russia (1)[4].
- Shift in Policy: Historically, Germany imposed strict restrictions on arms exports to Turkey due to their acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems and the Syrian invasion. However, in October 2024, Chancellor Scholz confirmed the initial approval for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey, signaling a change in policy (2).
- Meteor Missile Deal: Germany facilitated Turkey's acquisition of Meteor missiles for their Eurofighter Typhoon jets by easing arms export restrictions. France also gave tacit approval for these munitions, resulting in concerns in Greece about military competition within the Aegean region (5).
- Humanitarian and Diplomacy: Despite military involvement, Germany remains dedicated to humanitarian efforts and diplomacy in the region. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced additional humanitarian aid for Syria, with plans to visit Turkey to address regional issues, including the participation of Kurds in the fight against Assad (3).
Recent Approvals
- Eurofighter Typhoon Purchase: Turkey is set to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with an initial batch of 20 second-hand Tranche 1 jets from the UK, as well as an additional 20 brand-new Tranche 4 jets. Germany has granted approval for this purchase, despite prior reservations (2).
- Meteor Missile Acquisition: The acquisition of Meteor missiles for the Eurofighter Typhoons was made possible by Germany's relaxed export restrictions and France's tacit approval, although these decisions have raised concerns in Greece about militant competition in the Aegean region (5).
- Arms Exports to Other Countries: Besides Turkey, Germany has also granted permission for arms exports to other Middle Eastern countries, including Singapore, Algeria, and the USA. Germany also pushed for weapon exports to Israel, despite mounting international criticism of Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip (4).
In summary, Germany has adopted more liberal arms export policies as of late, which can be attributed to the Ukraine conflict and shifting global geopolitical landscapes. Yet, these regulations continue to draw international scrutiny and criticism, illustrating the complexities of international security dynamics.
