Germany announced on Monday that, in accordance with events in the Middle East, it is now willing to permit Saudi Arabia to purchase Eurofighter aircraft.

Berlin’s veto was lifted, according to officials, in part because of Saudi Arabia’s “constructive stance” on the Israel-Gaza conflict, its assistance in thwarting Houthi rockets, and encouraging developments in Yemen’s peace process.

A spokesman for the Economy Ministry stated, “The altered circumstances and the stabilizing role that Saudi Arabia takes in the region must be taken into account.”

Germany’s export to Saudi Arabia, What does it mean for both the nations?

Germany, along with the UK, Italy, and Spain, is one of the four countries that produce the Eurofighter Typhoon, hence any sale needs their approval.

Currently, Saudi Arabia has over 70 Eurofighters in its fleet. Saudi officials have expressed their need for more and threatened to purchase additional fighter types from another source if their request is not granted.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the Typhoon as “one of the most capable and mission-ready aircraft in the world,” and Britain applauded the U-turn.

A German embargo has kept the sale in limbo, despite the British company BAE Systems’ 2018 announcement that it intended to sell 48 of the jets to Saudi Arabia. Up until 2017, the kingdom had already purchased 72 Eurofighters.

Nonetheless, Germany would not obstruct a British sale, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated during a visit to the area, and Mr. Scholz’s spokesperson verified on Monday that the chancellor shared this opinion.

According to the spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, “the developments we have seen since October 7, in which Saudi Arabia has taken a very constructive stance towards Israel” are what led to the shift. On that date, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, starting a war that has lasted for more than three months.

The purpose of the October 7 terrorists was to stop Saudi Arabia from getting closer to Israel. That objective was not met, according to Mr. Hebestreit. “There is good cooperation between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Israel.”

The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry noted that Germany may “not have imagined” in the past that the Saudi military might intercept missiles fired at Israel and emphasized the kingdom’s efforts to mend fences with Iran.

According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Baerbock particularly brought up Ryadh’s use of its Eurofighters to intercept Houthi rockets and drones headed for Israel.

Germany prohibition in wake of the Yemeni conflict

In their coalition agreement for 2021, Germany’s three ruling parties said that they would not support the transfer of weaponry to nations that are directly engaged in the Yemeni conflict.

Although Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Eurofighters will not be sold “any time soon,” he did hint last year that the “Yemen clause” would be lifted with regard to transport aircraft.

Berlin believes Saudi Arabia has contributed positively to the peace process in Yemen, which is another aspect, according to a spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry.

Fighting in Yemen came to an end in April 2022 because to a truce mediated by the UN, although in recent weeks, the Houthi rebels in the nation have attacked ships traveling through the Red Sea in support of Israel.

Berlin’s approval would allow the Eurofighter group to start formal talks. Final clearance for a sale would still need to come from Germany’s top Security Council.

A taboo from after 1945 has already been breached by Mr. Scholz’s government, which sent German armaments to Ukraine to assist repel an attack by Russia.

In the interest of BAE Systems, which claims that the Typhoon program supports roughly 20,000 jobs in the UK, Britain has been eager to close the Saudi agreement. Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar are also Eurofighter users.

Germany’s trustworthiness as a partner in the armaments program is seriously questioned. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest export markets in the world, and the German government has every right to adjust its policies in light of recent events.