German KMW wants to export tanks to Oman
BERLIN, November 13, 2015
German arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) wants to export over 70 Leopard tanks to Oman, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Thursday.
Germany's arms exports have come under scrutiny because of the increasing sums involved and because increasing amounts have been heading to countries outside the European Union and Nato, including to regions prone to instability like the Middle East.
Der Spiegel said Oman had invited KMW and a Turkish competitor to tender for a contract, which could have an order worth more than €2 billion ($2.14 billion), analysts said.
Der Spiegel said the Federal Security Council, the German body that monitors the export of military goods, had given KMW a temporary export licence for a Leopard tank for a test in Oman.
It said, however, that this did not constitute preliminary approval for the exports of all tanks, the magazine said.
No one at KMW was immediately available for comment.
Last year, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel pledged to be much more cautious in licensing arms exports at a time when Germany is trying to help reduce tensions in the Middle East.
Despite this pledge, the German government approved significantly more arms exports in the first half of this year.
Germany recently approved the export of grenade launchers, assault rifles and sub-machine guns worth over €3 million to Oman, which is viewed as a relatively stable country in the Middle East. - Reuters
