Germany’s Arms Sales On The Rise

When one reads the words ‘arms sales’ or ‘weapon systems sold’, one does not usually expect to see the word ‘Germany’ close by. Though it may be quiet global arms dealer, for the past several years (2007-2011) Germany has been the world’s third largest arms exporter. Though Berlin 9% of the total exports trails the United States and Russia by a wide margin, I would think this third place finish comes as a surprise to most. According to the latest Arms Export Report, this has been trend that started at the end of the 90s:

The latest Arms Export Report, published by the German government in
the middle of this week – as usual with great delay – lists individual
export authorizations for military hardware worth 5.4 billion Euros.
This is a significant increase over 2010, when Berlin approved arms
exports valued at 4.8 billion Euros. This is second only to the arms
exports in 2008, when the Federal Security Council approved licenses
for exports worth nearly 5.8 billion Euros. This means that German
arms exports have nearly doubled since the end of the 1990s, when they
fluctuated between two and three billion Euros.[1] German arms
manufacturers succeeded in pushing the Federal Republic of Germany to
third place in global arms exports – following the United States and
Russia, but ahead of its West European rivals, France and Great
Britain. From 2007 to 2011, Germany accounted for nine percent of
global arms exports – not including arms produced under German license
in third countries – from Spain to Saudi Arabia.

This should not really come as such a surprise. Germany’s pacifist constitution and modern culture are prevalent, but that has not curtailed the country from taking advantage of many of its greatest attributes; a skilled workforce, large manufacturing companies, and excellent science and technology sectors. Simply speaking, the Germans have the means to produce high tech weaponry that customers around the globe would like to purchase. Speaking even more simply; money, money, money!

Financial considerations are not the only reason Germany may be increasing their arms sales overseas. Providing allies with valuable weapon systems is an easy way to bolster their deterrent, defensive, and offensive capabilities. According to the German Foreign Policy website, many of Germany’s (and the United State’s) allies were recipients of German-made arms in 2011. The Middle East and North Africa appear prominently on the list of those receiving German produced arms: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Algeria. East and South Asia are also prevalent among those purchasing German weapons: Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia. There is no doubt that the containment of the Iranian threat and emerging Chinese power are key motivators for these target nations.

The militaristic culture of Germany’s Prussian roots may have faded, but Berlin still has interests around the world and the means to make an impact in foreign affairs with its defense industry.