Overview of Germany's Arms Export Approvals for 2025
In 2025, Germany approved arms exports totaling an impressive €13.3 billion, maintaining a volume nearly equivalent to the previous year. Among these exports, approximately €212.7 million were allocated to various African nations, showcasing a significant engagement with the continent. Notably, Egypt emerged as the largest recipient, receiving over €105 million in arms, followed closely by Algeria with around €53 million and Morocco, which received about €19 million. This comprehensive report on arms exports was presented to the Bundestag on August 24, 2026, highlighting the ongoing strategic partnerships Germany is cultivating around the globe.
Key Recipients and Export Categories
For Egypt, a total of 20 individual arms export licenses, amounting to €105.55 million, were granted, positioning it as the third-largest recipient of arms categorized as developing countries, following Ukraine and India. A remarkable 82.8% of the approval value for Egypt comprised components for self-propelled howitzers and ballistic vehicle protection, underscoring the focus on enhancing military capabilities in North Africa. Other categories included military electronics, naval equipment, and military aircraft, illustrating a diverse range of military support provided.
However, not all requested shipments to Egypt were approved, with the German government rejecting several applications, citing concerns over human rights and adherence to international humanitarian law, as stipulated by the European Union's Common Position on arms exports.
Algeria received 11 individual licenses worth €53.35 million, along with additional reports for general licenses totaling approximately €23,500. The majority of these approvals (91.5%) related to trucks, with other notable approvals including fire control equipment, armored vehicles, and military aircraft technology.
In contrast, Morocco's arms export approvals were considerably lower, totaling €19.27 million across 26 individual licenses. Over half of this value was attributed to detection and identification devices, alongside components for armored vehicles.
Additional approvals included Mauritania with €8.35 million, South Africa with about €8.72 million, and various smaller amounts for countries like Angola and Ethiopia. Nigeria and Niger received much smaller allocations, with Niger’s total being approximately €361,000. The report also indicated several rejected applications for Niger, which included a request for a protected terrain vehicle.
Overall, while the total value of German arms export licenses and recorded shipments through general permits in 2025 reached around €13.3 billion, there was a slight decrease from €13.4 billion in the previous year. The report revealed that the largest single recipient was Ukraine, with €2.28 billion, representing 17% of the total export volume. A substantial 65% of the total value was directed towards EU, NATO, and NATO-equivalent countries, reflecting Germany's strategic alignment with its Western allies.
The German government has also expanded the use of general licenses, resulting in a decrease in the value of traditional individual licenses from €12.83 billion in 2024 to €8.57 billion in 2025, while general permits accounted for about €4.7 billion in reported values. Interestingly, the approval value for small arms also saw a decline, dropping to €94.7 million from €161.3 million the previous year.
As reported by merkur.de.
