Germany Presses for EU Unity on Arms Sales Freeze to Saudis
Share
BERLIN — A top German official pressed Monday for the European Union to show a united front on arms exports to Saudi Arabia after Berlin backed a freeze on such exports over the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that arms exports to Saudi Arabia “can’t take place in the situation we’re currently in.” Her government and others in Europe have said the kingdom’s explanation so far of what happened to Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul is insufficient.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that arms exports to Saudi Arabia “can’t take place in the situation we’re currently in.”
German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, whose ministry is responsible for authorizing weapons exports, told ZDF television Monday that “we won’t, at this point, approve any further arms exports because we want to know what happened.”“For me, it is important to reach a joint European position … because only if all European countries agree will this make an impression on the government in Riyadh,” Altmaier said.
He added that “it will have no positive consequences if we, as we are doing, currently don’t pursue our arms exports, if at the same time other countries fill this gap.”
Officials made evident that Germany’s position stands for as long as exactly what happened to Khashoggi was in doubt.
“When it is cleared up, we will then see what happens next,” Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
It wasn’t clear if the German government also plans to block arms exports to Saudi Arabia that it previously approved. Altmaier said the government will now consider that question, and there should be a result “very soon.”
Economy Ministry spokeswoman Tanja Alemany said German exports worth 416 million euros ($479 million) to the kingdom were approved in the first three quarters of the year, but she didn’t have a figure for how many have been delivered so far.
German officials have stressed their “restrictive” approach to arms exports. As part of an agreement to form a coalition government earlier this year, Merkel and her center-left partners stated that Germany would not approve further arms exports to countries “so long as they are immediately involved in the war in Yemen.” Riyadh has been a key player in that war.
RELATED TOPICS:
Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk
World /
23 minutes ago
Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks
Housing /
34 minutes ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey
Local /
49 minutes ago
Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed
Crime /
1 hour ago
Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile
Sports /
2 hours ago
Carbon Monoxide Was Cause of Death of Brett Gardner’s Teen Son, Officials Confirm
Latest /
2 hours ago
Bettors Back Duke Men and UConn Women for National Championships
Sports /
2 hours ago
Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros
Sports /
2 hours ago
Fresno County Authorities Need Help Finding Family of Alejandro Solis
Local /
2 hours ago
Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal
In a wide-ranging ruling that could have larger implications for public interest lawsuits throughout California, the 5th District Court of A...
Water /
17 seconds ago
Categories
Latest
Videos

Water /
18 seconds ago
Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

Opinion /
9 minutes ago
As Dem Candidates for Governor Increase, They Wait for Harris to Decide

World /
23 minutes ago
Protests Planned All Over the World Aimed at Donald Trump and Elon Musk

Housing /
34 minutes ago
Average US Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage Dips to 6.64% for the Second Drop in 2 Weeks

Local /
49 minutes ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

Crime /
1 hour ago
Fresno Man Arrested in Armed Robbery After Search Warrant Executed

Sports /
2 hours ago