Germany's freezing of arms supplies to Saudi Arabia, which began in October last year and was formalized in March, will be in effect until March 2020, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday.
The ban-triggered by the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi - has been questioned in Chancellor Angela Merkel's own party following mysterious drone strikes on Saudi oil installations that the US and Saudi Arabia blame on Iran or its allies.
But Merkel on Tuesday said that at the moment she does not see "any conditions for changing the position."" by the German government, signaling that the moratorium should be extended after its initial expiration on September 30.
The center-left Social Democrats in Merkel's grand coalition government have resisted the resumption of arms exports to Saudi Arabia, as well as countries like the United Arab Emirates battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Yemen is considered one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, where millions of people are displaced and depend on meager supplies of humanitarian aid.
In March last year, the German government weakened its position by allowing deliveries to German firms involved in joint military export projects with France and the UK. The French and British partners were asked not to supply weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Extension of the mission in Iraq and Syria
Merkel's ruling coalition on Wednesday also announced that — if parliament gives its approval-Germany will also extend its Bundeswehr mission to train local forces in northern Iraq until October 31, 2020.
However, this mandate will set a lower limit on the number of troops - from 800 to 700 people.
In addition, Germany's mandate for its four Tornado military aircraft and tanker aircraft currently based in Jordan will be extended until March 2020, German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said.
This German mission helps with observation flights and aerial refueling for the multinational coalition against the remnants of the Islamic State militants." (IS) in Syria.
Demmer said that the Bundeswehr's participation in the region is bearing fruit, but the radical still poses a threat, hence the extension of the mission.
In accordance with the post-war Constitution of Germany, the parliament has the last word in military deployments, and the modern German military is often called the "parliamentary army" inside the country. Play JETX at BOOI and Win big!
