Germany Has Simplified Arms Exports To Ukraine

• 20.03.2026, 21:50

The simplified procedure applies to air defense and maritime defense supplies.

The German government, amid wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, has made it easier to export a number of weapons to both conflict zones.

The German Ministry of Economic Affairs, together with the Federal Office for Economics and Export Control (BAFA) introduced on Friday, March 20, with immediate effect, a new six-month general authorization (AGG) "for arms transfers to certain countries for defensive purposes."

The temporary authorization adapts arms export control procedures "to the new requirements" as applied to shipments of badly needed arms to the Gulf States and Ukraine. "By doing so, we ensure rapid and bureaucratically unburdensome exports to strengthen their defense systems and demonstrate solidarity," the ministry said in a statement.

The goal is to "further facilitate, within existing administrative capabilities, the rapid, risk-based transfer of air and maritime defense weapons to the Gulf States and Ukraine."

- Iran's indiscriminate strikes against the Gulf States have resulted in an urgent need for weapons, primarily for the The permit covers exports of "items for use in air and maritime defense, including measures to protect against or destroy sea mines."

- The simplified arms export permit is valid until Sept. 15. Exporters can take advantage of it without first submitting an application to BAFA - registration is allowed within 30 days of the first export. There are monthly reporting requirements for companies using the permit.