Germany reviewing arms exports to Saudi Arabia

OTTAWA — Germany is carefully reviewing all arms exports to Saudi Arabia because of human-rights concerns, but like Canada will not cancel previously negotiated deals.

German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is also the country’s economic affairs minister, says all pending arms deals between German firms and Saudi Arabia will be closely monitored.

“We must now review whether in future we should take a more critical stance on defensive armaments, which we have so far sold to Saudi Arabia for its national defence,” Gabriel said in a statement following Saudi Arabia’s execution of 47 people earlier this month.

Germany’s position offers a counterpoint to that of Canada, a NATO ally, and the recent clamour over an Ontario company’s deal to export $15 billion worth of light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi executions, including that of a prominent Shiite cleric, renewed calls for the federal Liberal government to suspend the lucrative deal between Saudi Arabia and General Dynamics Land Systems.

The Liberals, like the Conservatives before them, have said they will not cancel the deal.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has criticized Saudi Arabia for the mass executions and is considering releasing a partly censored version of the latest human-rights assessment of the country.

A spokesman for Gabriel’s office in Germany said the department has recently blocked export approval to Saudi Arabia for such “offensive weapons” as battle tanks and G36 assault rifles because they could be used for “oppressive measures.”

Gabriel has taken a hard line toward Saudi arms exports since becoming Germany’s economic affairs minister two years ago. The portfolio gives him final say over that country’s exports, and his tough stance has sent ripples through the German defence industry.