Germany is prepared to allow further deliveries of Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday.

Officials said Saudi Arabia’s “constructive stance” on the Israel-Gaza war, its role in intercepting Houthi missiles, and hopeful signs in Yemen’s peace process, had contributed to lifting Berlin’s veto.

“The changed situation and the stabilising role that Saudi Arabia takes in the region must be taken into account,” an Economy Ministry spokeswoman said.

Any sale must be approved by Germany because it is one of four manufacturers of the Eurofighter Typhoon, along with the UK, Italy and Spain.

Britain welcomed the U-turn, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman calling the Typhoon “one of the most capable and mission-ready aircraft in the world”.

Britain’s BAE Systems revealed in 2018 it hoped to sell 48 of the jets to Saudi Arabia, but the deal has remained in limbo because of a German ban. The Kingdom previously bought 72 Eurofighters up to 2017.

Germany’s three governing parties wrote in their 2021 coalition agreement that they would not approve arms sales to countries directly involved in the war in Yemen.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz signaled last year that the “Yemen clause” could be dropped in respect of transport aircraft, but said Eurofighters would not be exported “any time soon”.

A green light from Berlin would mean the Eurofighter consortium can formally enter negotiations. Germany’s top Security Council would still have to issue final approval for a sale.

Britain has been keen to finalise the Saudi deal on behalf of BAE Systems, which says the Typhoon programme supports about 20,000 jobs in the UK. Kuwait, Qatar and Oman also use the Eurofighter. (The National (UAE); Reuters; File Photo: Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Typhoon © RSAF)