Germany has announced that it is lifting its veto on the sale of Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that has been welcomed by the UK and France.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the decision was made in recognition of the “constructive role” that Saudi Arabia has played in the region’s security since the October 7 “Operation Flood the Temple Mount” launched by Hamas against Israel.
Baerbock said that Saudi Arabia has been intercepting missiles fired by Houthi rebels at Israel, and that the use of Eurofighter jets in this context is “no longer a secret.”
The German ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia had been in place since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Baerbock said that the world, especially in the Middle East, has become a “completely different place” since October 7.
The UK and France had been pressing Germany to lift the veto, and the decision is likely to be seen as a sign of improved relations between the three countries.
The Eurofighter is a multi-role fighter jet that is used by the air forces of nine countries, including Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain.
