The German government approved €4.03 billion worth of arms exports in the first half of this year, up from €3.46 billion in the first six months of 2015, the German newspaper Die Welt reported on Tuesday, citing government sources. The economy ministry declined to comment. On Sunday, the newspaper Welt am Sonntag cited a report from the economy ministry due to be presented to the cabinet on Wednesday as saying that German arms exports almost doubled in 2015 to their highest level since the beginning of this century. The value of individual approvals granted for exporting arms was €7.86 billion ($8.75 billion) last year compared with €3.97 billion worth of arms exports in 2014, the newspaper said. Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel had promised to take a much more cautious approach to licensing arms exports, especially with regard to the Middle East.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2016.
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