Germany halts all arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Eighteen Saudi nationals also banned over links to Khashoggi murder
Germany has announced that it will halt previously approved arms sales to Saudi Arabia, as the fallout over the killing of Washington Post columnist and dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues.
The move by Germany comes a month after it announced that it would put all future weapons exports on hold, but had “left open what would happen to already approved contracts”, Haaretz reports.
Among the weapons exports halted by Germany was the supply of 20 warships, the Wall Street Journal reports. But France, Britain and Spain have indicated that they will continue to sell arms to Riyadh despite the furore over the journalist’s murder.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Additionally, Germany has imposed travel bans on 18 Saudi nationals accused of being involved in the killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.
German foreign ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said Germany had coordinated closely with France and Britain “and decided to place an entry ban on the 18 Saudi citizens who were allegedly involved in this crime in the Schengen system database”, the Financial Times reports.
Burger said the ban was valid for the entire Schengen Area, and included members of the 15-person squad it is alleged was sent to Turkey to carry out the killing. Burger declined to directly name any of those affected by the travel ban.
The move by Germany follows a US decision yesterday to sanction 17 Saudi officials, freezing their US assets and stopping their companies from doing any business in the United States.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Will auto safety be diminished in Trump's second administration?
Today's Big Question The president-elect has reportedly considered scrapping a mandatory crash-reporting rule
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
One great cookbook: 'A Girl and Her Greens' by April Bloomfield
The Week Recommends Vegetables deserve the best. In this chef-author's hands, they achieve their ultimate potential.
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
DeSantis appoints Florida's top lawyer to US Senate
Speed Read The state's attorney general, Ashley Moody, will replace Sen. Marco Rubio in the Senate
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The rising demand for nuclear bunkers
Under the Radar Fears of nuclear war have caused an increase in shelter sales, but experts are sceptical of their usefulness
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published