Since the beginning of the year, Germany has issued arms export licenses worth 4 billion euros
Since the beginning of the year, the German government has issued arms export licenses worth 4,14 billion euros, which is a significant increase compared to licenses for 2,3 billion euros registered in the same period last year, DPA reported.
According to the Ministry of Economy, licenses for 2,54 billion euros have been issued for weapons such as machine guns and tanks. The remaining permits, which are worth 1,6 billion euros, are for "other military equipment".
This category includes equipment such as radars and radio communication equipment.
In Germany, companies that want to export military products have to ask for permission from the state.
According to the data, a large part of the licenses – for around 3,81 billion euros – are for supplying the EU, NATO and "the equivalent of NATO countries" such as Ukraine and South Korea.
Permits worth 1,78 billion euros are intended for "a major purchase from the Netherlands within the project expected to last several years," the ministry said.
For the defense of Ukraine, licenses were issued for about 562 million euros, and for export to "third countries" authorizations were obtained for 337 million euros.
The largest recipient of military equipment from Germany for the first half of the year is its EU partner, the Netherlands, followed by Ukraine, the United States and Great Britain.
Source: MIA