Overview

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered a temporary stop to approvals of German military exports that could be used in the Gaza conflict.
• Renk CEO Alexander Sagel told the Financial Times the company is exploring a “Plan B” to shift gearbox production for Israeli Merkava tanks to U.S. facilities over an eight- to ten-month timeline.
• The export decision has deepened rifts in the CDU/CSU, with CSU leader Markus Söder and other party figures accusing Merz of jeopardizing Germany’s ties with Israel.
• Rheinmetall has publicly distanced itself from supplying weapons to Israel, stating it is not currently exporting arms there.
• Lawmakers and legal experts are calling for full transparency and a review of past export authorizations issued under the previous government.