Leopard 1 is no longer a problem: Berlin rejects tank alternatives

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The heads of state of Western Europe are fed up. First, Germany was barred from supplying Swiss-made munitions to Ukraine, and Denmark was barred from passing on wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. Then, at the end of June, the Federal Council also refused to return 96 Leopard 1 tanks to the German manufacturer Rheinmetall.

The tanks currently stored in Italy are to be repaired in Germany and then transferred to Ukraine. “To be honest, I was very disappointed and I find it difficult to understand,” said outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (56) angrily.

Switzerland is currently making few friends, which could cost the local defense industry dearly. Germany now produces its cheetah ammunition itself. And the Dutch parliament no longer wants to buy Swiss weapons.

Only on Tuesday, Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl (44) spoke again in a new report on relations between Switzerland and the EU that “opportunities in geopolitics and security have been missed”.

VBS signaled an alternative option

It is an open secret that Defense Secretary Viola Amherd (61) wanted to make the Leopard 1 deal possible. Finally, further rapprochement with NATO is a stated goal of the Federal Council as a whole. The planned participation in the European anti-missile shield “Sky Shield” is only one step.

Her Defense department (VBS) therefore signals alternatives behind closed doors. For example, the transfer of the Leopard 1 tanks had to be banned mainly because they would land in the war zone. “But if they stayed in the West, it would probably be possible to pass them on,” says the DDPS. A judgment that is in principle confirmed by the responsible State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (Seco).

In contrast to the Leo 1, it is therefore also possible to transfer 25 more modern Leopard 2 tanks. They are only intended to fill gaps in supplies in NATO countries if they do not come close to the war front. After the Federal Council and the National Council have already agreed, only the blessing of the Council of States is missing here. “It is therefore possible that there will also be new, modified requests for Leopard 1,” the DDPS said.

Berlin waives a new request

However, the idea for an alternative solution to the Leo 1 was rejected in Berlin. What German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (63) only hinted at during his recent visit to Bern, his Defense Ministry has now made it unequivocally clear: there will be no modified request for the Leopard 1 tanks.

Germany only wants this for Ukraine. I don’t need the Leopard 1 myself. “The type is no longer actively used in NATO countries. Therefore, it cannot fill stock holes with it, unlike the Leopard 2,” said a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry.

And even as a warehouse for spare parts, the steel giants are not a problem: “It would be difficult to convey to Ukraine that functioning tanks, which they urgently need in their struggle for survival, will be dismantled instead.” Pistorius would have made that clear to his colleague Amherd.

The Swiss attempt to make amends in the west has failed. The balancing act between neutrality and solidarity with Ukraine is becoming less and less successful.

Source:Blick