Getting extremely frustrated with Saudi Arabia over the latter’s increasing human rights violation, Germany is planning to review all arms export to the Royal Kingdom in the future.
Saudi Arabia has given food for thought to Germany over the human right concerns with the European giant looking to review its future course of action in its arms dealing with the Kingdom. However, Berlin has assured that deal already in place regarding arms export to Saudi Arabia will not be cancelled by Germany and it will go ahead as per decided road map.
Saudi Arabia recently executed a massive 47 people in one day including one of the respected and a prominent Shiite cleric, which has been received massive condemnation from all over the world. Canada, a full member of NATO and the ally of United States has also criticized the Saudi government for their inhuman acts of execution but have not decided to review their position on arms sale to Saudis unlike the German.
The Liberals who are now in the government, have also assured Saudi Arabia that they would not cancel the deal in place but have raised serious concerns over the unfortunate events taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Stephane Dion, Canada’s foreign minister has lashed out the Saudi government for the mass execution that took place recently and has revealed that Canada is thinking about releasing a somewhat censored version of the latest human rights valuation of the country.
Germany like Canada, has also stated that the deals already in place will not be altered and will go ahead as planned. However, Germany will closely monitor the situation before signing any future deals regarding arms export to Saudi government. This was stated by the German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who also holds the office of Economic Affairs in Germany.
Gabriel added that Germany will now be more critical when it comes to the export of weapons to Saudi Arabia, even if those weapons are being given to Saudi Arabia for its defense.
“We must now review whether in future we should take a more critical stance on defensive armaments, which we have so far sold to Saudi Arabia for its national defense,” Gabriel said in a statement following the recent Saudi executions.
According to reports, Germany has blocked a proposed export approval to Saudi Arabia for offensive weapons. Those weapons compromised of battle tanks in addition to G36 assault Rifle. Sigmar Gabriel has taken a hard stance towards Saudi Arabia since taking charge of the economic affairs ministry. It is his say that is considered final over Germany’s arms exports to other countries and his tough line against Saudi Arabia has left German defense ministry in a state of shock to some extent.
He is even critical of export to such countries in the name of defensive goods.
“We have a constant review process every time a permit is applied for. We’ve taken a more critical or more restrictive point of view in the past already.”
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