Overview
- From Jan 1 to Dec 8, the government cleared €8.40 billion in arms exports, down from record totals of €13.33 billion in 2024 and €12.15 billion in 2023.
- Approvals for Ukraine fell to €1.14 billion for 2025, and the government has halted detailed public breakdowns of deliveries to keep Russia uncertain about support levels.
- Of the 2025 total reported so far, €5.39 billion in approvals are attributable to the new Union–SPD government, according to an Economics Ministry reply to MP Ulrich Thoden.
- Norway led destination countries, while approvals for Turkey reached €726 million—the highest since 1999—drawing criticism over Ankara’s human-rights record.
- Sixty percent of approved exports were classified as war weapons, and the share to non‑EU/NATO ‘third countries’ fell to 28% from 85% in 2024, largely reflecting lower Ukraine values.