On 17 December 2025, the Joint Conference on Church and Development (GKKE) presented its annual report on German arms exports. Simone Wisotzki, a researcher in humanitarian and arms export control at PRIF and a member of the GKKE expert group on arms exports, co-authored the document.
The 80-page Arms Export Report 2025 examines current German and European export practices and presents the latest figures. The GKKE reiterates its call for a German arms export control law to regulate key issues such as unclear export criteria and a lack of political and legal control.
In his speech at the Federal Press Conference, Dr. Max Mutschler, Chair of the GKKE Expert Group on Arms Exports, pointed out that the coalition agreement refers to a 'strategically oriented arms export policy'. He urged the federal government to prioritise human rights, democracy, and peace over its foreign, economic, and security policy interests when making decisions on arms exports.
The report focuses on German arms exports to India, Israel and the Middle East in particular. The GKKE opposes exports if there is reason to believe that recipient countries will act in violation of international law. Exports should also be avoided if they would create or intensify threats, or undermine international norms such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
The report also addresses the recent rise in arms subsidies in Europe. The GKKE demands that 'European arms cooperation must not take precedence over restrictive European arms export controls' and sets out specific recommendations for joint control practices.
The GKKE is an ecumenical Protestant-Catholic working group on development policy. As the joint voice of the two major churches in Germany, the GKKE aims to lend political weight to the concept of a united global community within our country. The GKKE engages in dialogue with parliament, the government and social interest groups on issues of North–South policy and development cooperation.
The GKKE Arms Export Report 2025 is available for download at www.gkke.org. The press release is also available online.
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The Report can be downloaded as a PDF here.