Berlin, 04 September (H.S.): Germany has approved arms and military equipment exports worth around €800 million (approximately Rs 87,720 crore) to Israel between January and June this year. The amount is nearly four times the total value of arms exports approved by Germany to Israel last year. The information was provided by the German government in response to a question raised in Parliament.

According to Russia’s international news television network Russia Today (RT), government data showed that around one-fifth of the approved exports were linked to German-Israeli defence cooperation, which also benefited the German armed forces. More than two-thirds of the total approved amount was reportedly related to the INS Drakon, a roughly 70-metre-long Dolphin-II-class submarine being built for Israel by German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).

According to the report, the submarine departed from the German port of Kiel on Tuesday and is heading towards Israel. It has been designed to remain underwater for extended periods. The German government said the remaining approved exports included military equipment that is not legally classified directly as “weapons of war”. These include small arms, ammunition, explosives and drones.

Germany’s opposition Left Party has questioned the government’s policy, accusing it of applying “double standards” towards Israel. MP Lea Reisner said the German government, on the one hand, expresses displeasure over statements made by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, while on the other hand continuing defence cooperation with the Israeli government and military.

In August 2025, Germany temporarily halted certain arms exports to Israel following Israel’s plans for a possible takeover of Gaza City. However, the restrictions were lifted in November following a Hamas-Israel ceasefire mediated by the United States. Questions have continued to be raised over Germany’s arms export policy amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, military cooperation between Germany and Israel also appears to be expanding. The German Navy said on Wednesday that it had successfully tested an Israeli ballistic missile with a range of around 500 kilometres in the North Atlantic. Germany does not have its own ballistic missile system. Among its major long-range missile systems is the Taurus cruise missile.

Germany’s continued support for Israel has also drawn international criticism. South Africa has brought allegations of genocide against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which Israel rejects.

Against this backdrop, domestic and international pressure over Germany’s policy towards Israel has increased. According to the report, some analysts have also linked Germany’s failure in June to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council to its foreign policy and its stance towards Israel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar