Chancellor Helmut Schmidt has dropped plans to sell Saudi Arabia West Germany’s most advanced tank, the Leopard II, but has not excluded the sale of other sophisticated arms to the Saudis, according to a report in the daily Die Welt. The newspaper said Schmidt changed his mind on the tank sale because of serious political problems within his ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD).
The government recently adopted new guidelines for the sale of arms abroad. They removed the long self-imposed ban against weapons sales to countries in areas of tension, such as the Middle East. Future decisions on arms exports by West Germany will be made on the basis of the country’s “vital” political and security interests.
It is widely believed here that the government is prepared to examine future Saudi requests for armored vehicles of various types, including some equipped with anti-aircraft systems.
The Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Sultan, says his country is still interested in the Leopard II tank, according to the Arab newspaper Al Yamaha. But resistance to arms exports is growing. Several groups, including local members of the SPD, are planning a demonstration in Hannover and other forms of protest against Bonn’s new arms policy. The demonstration will be held when an exposition of electronic products designed for military use opens in that city this week.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
