Record-breaking arms sales
A perspective on international (in)security
By Abed Akbari
International affairs expert
In 2023, Germany has set a new record in its arms exports. According to Germany’s dpa news agency, Germany exported approximately €12.5 billion worth of weapons and military products to various countries. This figure indicates a 50% increase compared to 2022, when German arms exports amounted to €8.35 billion.
The top recipients of German arms in 2023 were Ukraine (€2.24 billion), Israel (€303 million), Turkey (€297 million), Saudi Arabia (€265 million), and Egypt (€205 million). These countries are involved in some of the world’s crisis and conflict zones, and it appears that German weapons play a significant role in the ongoing international crises, particularly in Ukraine and the occupied territories. This has led to severe criticism from civil organizations, political parties, media, and the general public in Germany. The German government typically defends its arms exports by citing reasons such as supporting allies, enhancing regional security, preserving defense industries, and creating employment. It often portrays itself as attempting to impose restrictions and transparency on arms exports through legislation, such as the Export Control Act, to prevent the misuse of German weapons for war crimes, human rights violations, escalating tensions, and the promotion of nuclear weapons.
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