Germany extends ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia

Germany announced Wednesday it would extend a temporary ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the end of the month.

The ban, which Germany instituted following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, applies to countries involved in the Yemen war, and has led to both domestic and international tension, with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government facing pressure from the German arms industry and some EU neighbors angered over the export freeze.

The ban was originally set to last until March 9.

“We decided this with a view to developments in Yemen,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said following a meeting of Merkel’s cabinet. “We believe that the Yemen war must end as soon as possible.”

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