Germany's Weapon Exports Reach Record High in 2025
According to a report by Reference News on March 14, the German newspaper Rheinische Post reported on March 11 that the value of arms exports approved by the German federal government in 2025 has reached a historic high. According to the government's response to inquiries from the Left Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag, the total value of weapons approved for export by Germany last year exceeded 13.11 billion euros. In comparison, Germany approved arms exports worth approximately 12.83 billion euros in 2024, which is 280 million euros less than in 2025.
The 13.11 billion euros in weapons can be divided into two categories: one category is combat weapons worth 5.62 billion euros, including fighter jets, tanks, fully automatic pistols, and warships; the other category is other military equipment worth 7.49 billion euros, including single-barrel pistols, revolvers, shotguns, sporting rifles, as well as radar and radio equipment.
Most of the weapons were exported to EU countries, NATO countries, or countries with a status similar to NATO member states (such as Switzerland). In 2025, the country receiving the most German weapons remained Ukraine: military equipment worth a total of 2.27 billion euros was sold to Ukraine last year. The second to fifth places were Norway, Sweden, Turkey, and Singapore, respectively. The Middle East also received a significant amount of German military equipment: Israel received weapons and supplies worth approximately 201 million euros, while Qatar received about 194 million euros.
The spokesperson for foreign policy of the Left Party parliamentary group, Janosch Özdemir, criticized the increase in German arms exports. She stated, “This is not a restrained, human rights-focused policy at all— the government is merely an approval machine for the arms industry.” She criticized that, amid escalating global conflicts, the German military industry is profiting immensely with the support of the government.
On the 9th, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released a report on global arms exports. The report indicated that from 2021 to 2025, Germany has risen to become the fourth largest arms exporter in the world, accounting for 5.7% of the total global arms exports, with export volumes only trailing behind the United States, France, and Russia during the same period. The institute pointed out that compared to 2016 to 2020, German arms exports have increased by 15% in the past five years. (Translated by Zhong Sirui)
Germany's arms exports reached a record high of 131.1 billion euros in 2025, with Ukraine being the largest recipient at 2.27 billion euros. The exports included combat weapons such as fighter jets and tanks, as well as other military equipment. This increase has drawn criticism from political figures regarding the government's arms export policies.
- Germany approved arms exports worth over 131.1 billion euros in 2025.
- The largest recipient of German arms in 2025 was Ukraine, receiving 2.27 billion euros worth.
- Germany is now the fourth largest arms exporter in the world, accounting for 5.7% of global arms exports.
- The increase in arms exports has been criticized by political figures in Germany.