German arms exports to Persian Gulf states hit $1.88bn in 2012

A file photo of German-made Heckler and Koch G36 Assault rifle

A report says that Germany's weapons exports to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf have reached 1.42 billion euros (USD 1.88 billion) in 2012.

The report published by the Munich-based Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on Friday also added that Saudi Arabia was the biggest purchaser among the states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

German firms sold 1.24 billion euros worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the report added.

This comes after German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the green light in principle for a multi-million-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia in December 2012.

This is while, German opposition parties and peace activists sharply condemned Berlin’s plan to sell advanced weapons to Persian Gulf countries, saying it would not comply with export regulations.

German arms exports remain a controversial issue because Berlin cannot guarantee that its exported weapons remain in the countries to which they were sold.

In July 2012, Lawmakers from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens and The Left party (Die Linke) voiced outrage over Berlin's decision to sell up to 200 advanced Leopard tanks to Qatar.

They said the decision showed Merkel’s “Moral bankruptcy” and Berlin’s support for the dictators and torturers.

The European country is the world’s third largest exporter of weapons after the US and Russia.

According to a report published by the London-based Amnesty International (AI), German weaponry including small firearms, ammunition and military vehicles have been massively deployed in the Middle East and North Africa to suppress peaceful protests.


font: PressTV