German military support for Saudi Arabia outrages opposition

The German opposition has slammed government plans to offer training to Saudi Arabian military forces, equating such aid with sponsorship of terrorism.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen discussed “cooperation in the training sector” with her Saudi counterpart, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh on Thursday, according to the Germany Embassy in the Saudi capital.

“Beginning from next year, the German Defense College will host several young officers and staff from the Saudi military,” the diplomatic mission said.

Germany’s Left Party and the Greens called the prospect into serious question by pointing to Saudi Arabia’s deadly war on Yemen.

Sevim Dagdelen, the spokesman for the Left Party, said, “Saudi Arabia leads a brutal war in Yemen and is among the most important supporters” of extremists in Syria.

“The terrorist aid from Germany must finally be stopped,” he said.

Omid Nouripour, a foreign policy spokesman for the Greens, also said, “We must prevent the Saudis from bombing the civilian infrastructure in the country (Yemen).”

“There are 370,000 seriously under-nourished children in Yemen due to the consequences of the [Saudi] war,” he said.

ME