Germany Ready to Authorize Sale of Eurofighter Jets to Saudi Arabia
Germany has indicated a readiness to authorize the sale of Eurofighter type aircraft to Saudi Arabia, in a significant shift from the freeze on arms sales to Riyadh that was imposed following the assassination of Saudi opposition journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke to reporters during her visit to Israel, noting Riyadh's constructive role in the security crisis of the Middle East since the extremist Palestinian organization Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.
Following an outbreak of renewed warfare in the Gaza Strip, initiated by the Palestinian terror group Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, wherein thousands were killed in the brutal conflict and subsequent Israeli retaliatory strikes, there have been over two hundred civilians taken hostage. The exchange of prisoners, cease-fire agreements, and other developments in the conflict are part of our ongoing article series.
On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed Germany's preparedness to clear the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter-bombers to Saudi Arabia, currently hindered by a German restriction that has blocked the fulfillment of a deal made years prior, signed in London during a visit from the Saudi prince.
After suspending arms sales to Riyadh since the murder of Khashoggi, something American intelligence primarily attributes to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Berlin prevented the significant order for 48 Eurofighter Typhoons from going through.
The Eurofighter is a consortium program led by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, involving manufacturers like BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo.
During her visit to Israel, Baerbock emphasized that both Saudi Arabia and Israel have not abandoned their normalization policy following the October 7 attack. "The fact that Saudi Arabia is now intercepting missiles launched at Israel by the Houthis highlights this commitment, and for this, we are grateful," she added. "It's an open secret that the Saudi air force is also using Eurofighters in this context," the minister continued. "These days, Saudi Arabia is contributing decisively to Israel's security and helping to prevent the spread of regional firestorms."
Germany's years-long embargo has been a source of irritation for British and French allies. The position, adopted during former Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative administration, was institutionalized in the coalition agreement of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD-Green-Liberals government, with the Greens - Baerbock's party - notably opposing the sale of the fighter jets, also due to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war in Yemen.
"The world, especially here in the Middle East, has completely changed since October 7," Baerbock justified her statement on the fighter jets, pointing to the evolving security landscape in the region.
On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed Germany's preparedness to clear the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter-bombers to Saudi Arabia, currently hindered by a German restriction that has blocked the fulfillment of a deal made years prior, signed in London during a visit from the Saudi prince.
After suspending arms sales to Riyadh since the murder of Khashoggi, something American intelligence primarily attributes to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Berlin prevented the significant order for 48 Eurofighter Typhoons from going through.
The Eurofighter is a consortium program led by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain, involving manufacturers like BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo.
During her visit to Israel, Baerbock emphasized that both Saudi Arabia and Israel have not abandoned their normalization policy following the October 7 attack. "The fact that Saudi Arabia is now intercepting missiles launched at Israel by the Houthis highlights this commitment, and for this, we are grateful," she added. "It's an open secret that the Saudi air force is also using Eurofighters in this context," the minister continued. "These days, Saudi Arabia is contributing decisively to Israel's security and helping to prevent the spread of regional firestorms."
Germany's years-long embargo has been a source of irritation for British and French allies. The position, adopted during former Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative administration, was institutionalized in the coalition agreement of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD-Green-Liberals government, with the Greens - Baerbock's party - notably opposing the sale of the fighter jets, also due to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the war in Yemen.
"The world, especially here in the Middle East, has completely changed since October 7," Baerbock justified her statement on the fighter jets, pointing to the evolving security landscape in the region.
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