German weapons exports hit record with bumper Egypt sales

Arms sales to Egypt boosted Germany’s weapons exports to record levels in 2021, according to government figures released on Monday.

About €5.95 billion went to so-called third countries not included in that list. Of those, by far the highest spender was Egypt, to which some €4.34 billion of goods — principally air defense systems and maritime equipment — were exported.

Human rights activists accuse the Egyptian government of serious rights abuses and involvement in both the conflicts in Yemen and Libya.