Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—German arms exports to Saudi Arabia and Egypt have increased five-fold in 2017.

In the third quarter of 2017 alone, the German government has approved around $530 million worth of arms sales.  In the same quarter of last year, the number of weapons sold was a mere $101 million, less than five times the current figure.

Egypt came first with $353 million, which makes President Sisi’s country the number one recipient of German armaments.  Saudi Arabia followed with $177 million.

The numbers were disclosed by the German Economy Ministry only after left-wing MP Stefan Liebich requested them.  Therefore, no details on the types of weapons sold are known.  However, they most likely include four patrol boats and 110 military supply trucks to Saudi Arabia that the Defence Ministry had announced, without a price tag, during the summer.  The specific weapon systems sold to Egypt remain unclear.