Germany ‘Reluctantly’ Rules Out Reneging on Weapons Deliveries to Qatar

German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he could not reverse the country's existing arms contracts with Qatar and other Middle Eastern nations that were signed by the previous government.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – German arms exports hit a record high in 2015 despite criticism from the Green Party that the government was fueling civil wars in the Middle East. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble admitted Sunday that the nation’s arms export guidelines were not "fit for Europe."

"Unfortunately, I cannot repeal it [the contract]," Gabriel told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Sunday.

Germany has been exporting tanks to Qatar, which is backing the government in Yemen's civil war between rebels and troops loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Gabriel confirmed that the country's total arms "exports have significantly increased" but added this was because Germany was delivering on the previously agreed contracts.

Germany delivered billions worth of weapons to Qatar and Saudi Arabia last year, almost doubling its overall revenues from arms sales compared to 2014, according to German media reports. This was despite harsh criticism from opposition parties.