Egypt Foreign Aid West Germany

Chancellor Helmut Kohl, declaring that American forces in the Persian Gulf "are also defending our interests," said Saturday that West Germany will contribute about $2 billion to support the U.S.-led effort. Secretary of State James A. Baker III said later that the West German pledge had raised total foreign contributions to more than $20 billion, substantially increasing the chances of eventually ending the crisis without warfare.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl, declaring that American forces in the Persian Gulf "are also defending our interests," said Saturday that West Germany will contribute about $2 billion to support the U.S.-led effort. Secretary of State James A. Baker III said later that the West German pledge had raised total foreign contributions to more than $20 billion, substantially increasing the chances of eventually ending the crisis without warfare.

The United States has concluded that leading West German and Italian aerospace firms have played a critical role in helping Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Argentina develop medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying chemical warheads. Until recently, arms controllers worried about the proliferation of ballistic missiles used mainly as the delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons in regional conflicts.

The United States has concluded that leading West German and Italian aerospace firms have played a critical role in helping Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Argentina develop medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying chemical warheads. Until recently, arms controllers worried about the proliferation of ballistic missiles used mainly as the delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons in regional conflicts.