After two years of high export figures, they are leaving Approvals for German arms exports down significantly this year. From January 1st to December 8th, 2025, the approved Federal Government the export of weapons and other military equipment worth 8.4 billion euros. This emerges from a response from the Federal Ministry of Economics to a request from Left MP Ulrich Thoden. In the previous two years, the volume of approved deliveries reached record levels of 13.33 billion euros in 2024 and 12.15 billion euros in 2023.
Above all for Ukraine As a result, fewer arms deliveries were approved. The letter from State Secretary Thomas Steffen said that in 2025, military equipment worth 1.14 billion euros would be delivered to the by Russia attacked land has been approved. In 2024 it was still 8.15 billion euros. According to a ministry spokeswoman, ongoing support goes to: Ukraine partly based on previously granted approvals. On the other hand, Ukraine funds flow into “longer-term projects” that would only later be reflected in export permits.
Ukraine is also increasingly investing in its own production of military equipment. There is no longer an exact list of arms deliveries to Ukraine since the change of government. The Union and SPD government justifies this by saying that Russia should be kept in the dark about military support for Ukraine.
Growing exports in Türkiye
According to the letter, the new black-red federal government approved military equipment worth 5.39 billion euros. With regard to the countries to which exports were approved during the previous Black-Red government, this is particularly important Türkiye on. It is in second place behind Norway with 1.31 billion euros, with export licenses worth 726 million euros. This means that more arms exports were approved during the period than for Ukraine with 483 million euros.
Arms deliveries to NATO partner Türkiye are controversial because of the human rights situation there, but also because of the international actions of the government in Ankara. After Turkish troops invaded Syria in 2016, export permits were significantly reduced and in the years that followed were only in the low double-digit or even single-digit million range. Even under the traffic light government, they rose to more than 230 million euros last year. The black-red government finally pulled the trigger in July by approving the export of Eurofighter fighter jets.
Left-wing politician Thoden criticizes the growing exports to Turkey. “Armaments exports are used strategically by the federal government, which means that allies are supported, regardless of how they feel about human rights,” he said.
