BERLIN : The German government will not approve a reported deal to sell up to 800 battle tanks to Saudi Arabia, a German Sunday newspaper said, citing government sources. The sale of the Leopard-2 tanks had been billed as one of the biggest deals for the German armaments industry, Bild reported. But Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a Social Democrat in the left-right “grand coalition”, has “positioned himself against a tanks delivery to the autocratic royal house”, it said, citing government sources.
“Without agreement from the economy minister the deal has no chance,” Bild said.