Kathmandu. Arms exports from Germany have increased by 30 percent in the first six months of this year. Most of the weapons have been exported to Ukraine. This is mentioned in the figures released by the German Ministry of Finance on Sunday.
The five main countries to which Germany exports most of its arms are Ukraine, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It has exported weapons worth 1.21 billion Euros to Singapore, 15.3 million Euros to India, 13.24 million Euros to Saudi Arabia and 100 million Euros to Qatar.
From January 1st to June 18th, the German government authorized the export of arms worth 7.48 billion euros. In 2023, 60 percent of Germany’s arms exports were made during June 18 this year. If this situation continues, by the end of this year, Germany will set a new record in arms sales.
Last year, Germany sold a record 12.2 billion euros in arms. Most of them went to Ukraine, where the war continues after the invasion of Russia.
Germany is the second largest exporter of arms to Ukraine after the US. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has so far exported a total of 10.2 billion euros worth of weapons.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he will reduce arms sales after taking power in December 2021. His statement was that arms should not be sold to countries that are not members of the European Union and NATO. But arms sales are steadily increasing. Experts say that the Russia-Ukraine war could be the main reason for this. .
According to the records of the Ministry of Economy of Germany, two-thirds of the weapons sold in the last six months of this year were exported to Ukraine.
Germany has sold weapons worth 4.88 billion euros to Ukraine so far this year. In the first year of the Russia-Ukraine war, the German government approved the sale of 2.24 billion Euros of arms to Ukraine. It contained air defense systems, cannons and other weapons. Arms exports to Ukraine increased to 4.4 billion euros. It had weapons including Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Germany is the second largest exporter of arms to Ukraine after the US. Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has so far exported a total of 10.2 billion euros worth of weapons.
Last year in July, Germany eased the ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia. After that, Saudi Arabia is also in the list of countries that export a lot of weapons from Germany.
In 2018, Germany imposed the ban after Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. Another reason for the ban was the civil war in Yemen, in which Saudi Arabia had been interfering. At present, the tension between Saudi Arabia and its neighboring country Yemen has reduced.
-Agency