Defense News Germany & Saudi Arabia :- In a significant shift, Germany is now open to allowing the sale of Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia, as announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday. This move comes after years of Germany blocking arms deals with the Gulf kingdom, marking a departure from its previous stance.
The Eurofighter jet, a collaborative effort among Germany, Britain, Italy, and Spain, had faced obstacles as each participating country held the power to veto deals. Germany had specifically opposed a deal sought by London since 2018.
Baerbock, during her visit to Israel, clarified that the German federal government does not stand against British considerations regarding Eurofighter sales. She highlighted the crucial role played by Saudi Arabia in the Middle East security crisis, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7.
Notably, Germany had halted arms sales to Riyadh since the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. This included blocking a deal for 48 Eurofighter jets that had been signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in London.
Baerbock acknowledged that both Saudi Arabia and Israel had not abandoned their policy of normalization despite the ongoing conflict. She emphasized the significance of Saudi Arabia intercepting missiles fired by the Houthis at Israel and expressed gratitude for this action. The minister also pointed out that the Saudi air force use of Eurofighters in this context is widely known.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia role as a key contributor to Israel security, Baerbock emphasized that the country is actively helping to mitigate the risk of a regional conflagration. This policy shift by Germany reflects the evolving dynamics in the region and its acknowledgment of the changing geopolitical landscape.
——— End of Article ———
