Last year, Germany exported armaments worth a total of 12.2 billion euros – most of them to Ukraine. The record value corresponds to the “challenges of our time,” said the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
German arms exports reached a new record level last year. According to preliminary figures, individual licenses were issued for the export of military equipment worth 12.2 billion euros, as the Federal Ministry of Economics announced in Berlin. Exports had already been estimated in December – at “at least 11.71 billion euros”.
The value is above that of 2021, when export licenses were issued for 9.4 billion euros – the historic high up to that point. Arms exports then declined in 2022. The new high for 2023 is a “direct consequence of the security policy challenges of our time,” said State Secretary Sven Giegold (Greens).
According to the ministry, permits were issued for the export of war weapons worth 6.4 billion euros and for other military equipment worth 5.8 billion euros.
Ukraine exports amounting to 4.4 billion euros
Exports most often went to Ukraine in 2023. According to information, arms exports worth 4.4 billion euros were approved for the country attacked by Russia alone.
According to the ministry, 10.84 billion euros of the total value of the individual permits issued are attributable to EU, NATO and NATO-equivalent countries as well as South Korea, Singapore and Ukraine. This corresponds to a share of 89 percent. The rest goes to other third countries.
Philipp Eckstein, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 4th, 2024 3:15 p.m