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National
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Merkel to greenlight armoured vehicle deal

Published: 30 Dec 12 09:55 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121230-47043.html

The German government has already agreed "in principle" to sell 30 German Dingo 2 armoured vehicles worth about €100 million to Saudi Arabia, it was reported Sunday.

Quoting sources close to the talks on a deal, the Bild am Sonntag said Riyadh could eventually purchase up to 100 of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected Dingos.

The Dingo 2 is advertised by its maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann as "the safest and best-protected wheeled vehicle in its class" with an "outstanding performance on extremely difficult terrains and under extreme climatic conditions."

The vehicle is also fitted with a nuclear biological and chemical protection system.

Germany's national security council of which Chancellor Angela Merkel is the chair is still to make a final decision on the deal but has already given the green light in principle, said the weekly.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly shown an interest in German tanks.

Earlier this year German newspapers reported, quoting government sources, that Riyadh wanted to buy 600-800 Leopard battle tanks, more than twice as many as originally envisaged.

For decades Germany has declined to sell such heavy weapons to Saudi Arabia because of concerns over human rights and fears for Israel's security.

Opposition politicians and even some members of Merkel's ruling centre-right coalition had slammed the reported tank sale, particularly in light of pro-democracy uprisings throughout the Middle East.

AFP/bk

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

12:56 December 30, 2012 by Englishted
Sell them steamrollers, all the better to crush the "pro-democracy uprisings " if that is what they are .
03:07 December 31, 2012 by DOZ
A little shot at Germany by the Canadians. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/28/beacon-to-the-world-canada-a-bright-spot-in-an-otherwise-dark-planet
04:14 December 31, 2012 by Albertaclipper
The Middle East continues to care less what the world thinks. The West is losing its grip and may soon regret those German Dingos in Riyadh. The link to the toronto sun shows the poor judgement of the writer/
06:44 December 31, 2012 by RainerL
I guess morals don't get much of a mention when it comes to Armor sale.

As long as the $$$ keep coming in. Then they name the dran thing Dingo?

One would think they are now made in Australia!
09:24 December 31, 2012 by Englishted
Dingo the baby stealer was first ,Dingo 2 can wipe out whole families.

No thats progress.
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