German halt in Saudi arms sales hurting UK industry

British FM warns German government's decision to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia would cost German defence firms 2.3 billion euros in revenues by 2026.
Germany accounts for just under 2 percent of total Saudi arms imports

BERLIN - Britain has urged Germany to exempt big defence projects from its efforts to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia or face damage to its commercial credibility, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

Germany said last November it would reject future arms export licences to Saudi Arabia over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It has not formally banned previously approved deals but has urged industry to refrain from such shipments for now.

Germany accounts for just under 2 percent of total Saudi arms imports, a small percentage internationally compared with the United States and Britain, but it makes components for other countries' export contracts. That includes a proposed 10-billion-pound deal for Riyadh to buy 48 new Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Britain.

"I am very concerned about the impact of the German government's decision on the British and European defence industry and the consequences for Europe's ability to fulfil its NATO commitments," British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt wrote in a letter to his German counterpart Heiko Maas, Spiegel reported.

Hunt said British defence firms would not be able to fulfil several contracts with Riyadh including the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Tornado fighter jet, both of which are made with parts affected by the German halt in deliveries to Saudi Arabia.

"This letter shows how Germany's arms export practices are costing it the ability to partner with its closest European allies," Hans Christoph Altzpodien, head of Germany's defence industry association BDSV, told Reuters.

Reuters has not seen the letter and a spokesman for the German foreign ministry declined to comment.

Losses

In his letter, Hunt also wrote that the German government's decision to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia would cost German defence firms 2.3 billion euros in revenues by 2026.

The German move is also holding up shipments of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia by MBDA, which is jointly owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Italy's Leonardo, since the missiles' propulsion system and warheads are built in Germany. MBDA has declined to comment on the issue.

Germany's decision to freeze arms exports has also met with opposition from other European powers, including France, where President Emmanuel Macron had labelled it "pure demagoguery".

"Germany can't expect to be a part of the European defence industry and various cooperation projects if it behaves so unilaterally on this," said one European diplomat.

A top Airbus official said on Friday that the German halt in exports to Saudi Arabia was preventing Britain from completing the Eurofighter sale to Riyadh, and had delayed potential sales of the A400M military transport and other weapons.

Hunt's letter comes as Britain prepares to leave the European Union on March 29, in the biggest shift in its commercial and diplomatic relations with the continent in decades. It has still to reach a deal with the EU on the terms of its exit, raising the risk of serious economic disruption.

Strategic relationship

Hunt, taking questions at a forum in Berlin, did not deny the contents of the Spiegel Online report.

Rather, he said that in talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, he would underline the importance of a "strategic relationship" with Riyadh, including in efforts to reach peace in Yemen.

Hunt had warned in his letter that Riyadh is already seeking compensation from Britain's BAE Systems over the German ban, Spiegel said.

Confirming implicitly that the issue will come up in talks later Wednesday with Germany's foreign minister, Hunt said: "When I talk to Heiko Maas, what I'd say is that the strategic relationship that Britain has with Saudi Arabia is what allows us to have a huge influence in bringing about peace in Yemen.

"In fact I'd go as far as to say that without that strategic relationship it wouldn't have been possible to proceed with the Stockholm agreement," he added, referring to a deal done in the Swedish capital for a ceasefire in Yemen.

"So Britain and Germany have the same objectives but we need to be able to continue that strategic relationship in order to make sure there is a European voice on the table doing everything we can to press for peace."