The strict German arms export law is causing problems for the domestic armaments industry. In European joint projects, all partners are threatened with blockades from Berlin. The Ministry of Defense wants to relax the rules, Economics Minister Habeck is opposed.
A dispute over arms exports is brewing in the coalition. In Berlin, the Social Democratic Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht spoke out in favor of treating these exports less restrictively in future: For example, the export of weapons technology developed jointly at European level should be made easier. Economics Minister Robert Habeck, whose office is responsible for approving arms exports, disagreed. The Green politician warned against a softening of the rules.
Lambrecht said in a keynote speech in Berlin: “We have to get to the export rules in order to give cooperation in defense goods a powerful boost in European politics.” Germany cannot allow itself a special position when exporting common European weapons technology: “With our reservation of values, we are putting ourselves above our European partners,” she criticized.
This complicates cooperation at European level in the development of new armaments. “Which partner should invest with us if they always fear that we will block exports?” asked Lambrecht. However, increased cooperation is desirable in order to “save out expensive parallel structures”.
Economics Minister Habeck struck a different tone after Lambrecht’s statement to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “Instead of demanding more lax rules for arms exports, we will become stricter and at the same time strengthen the interaction with value and alliance partners,” he said. “One thing is clear: Weapons do not belong to human rights violators.” This already applies today according to German and European rules, and “we want to strengthen this line”.
In the coalition agreement, the governing parties had agreed on a restrictive and transparent arms export policy, and European arms cooperation should also be strengthened. Key points for the Arms Export Control Act should be presented at the beginning of autumn.
