Saudi backs out of deal to back Egypt arms sales from Germany

Saudi Arabia has halted a deal which saw it finance an Egyptian plan to purchase two frigates from a German company, France’s Intelligence Online reported yesterday.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is thought to have pulled out of the deal as a result of Berlin’s decision to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia in response to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Turkey last month.

Saudi and its ally, the UAE, fund arms programmes in a number of Middle Eastern countries and further afield and many fear that the arms ban on Saudi Arabia may now affect them.

READ: Saudi Arabia boycotts German arms over sympathy with Qatar

Saudi Arabia faces international pressure following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the country’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on 2 October. Riyadh initially denied any role in his disappearance, but under pressure from Turkish authorities, it identified 18 suspects who had acted as “rogue agents” and killed the outspoken writer.