Saudi FM Adel al-Jubeir downplayed the latest German ban on arms sales to the kingdom, saying that it is “illogical” and isn’t going to impact the Saudi wars.
Saudi Arabia has been buying huge amounts of arms everywhere they can over the war in Yemen. The huge civilian death toll has many nations loath to sell them anymore, which Saudi officials are always angry about.
Jubeir insisted that the Saudis didn’t want the Yemen War but were forced into it. That’s not strictly true, as the Saudis chose to intervene in the Yemeni Civil War, backing the Hadi government’s continued rule years after its mandate expired as a way to avoid the Shi’ite Houthis possibly taking over.
Years of building diplomatic influence has meant few nations are comfortable moving against the Saudis even on war crimes matters. The US and Britain have both had this debate, and Germany, at least for now, is avoiding the sales.
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