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Now it has been resolved: the Federal Council wants to deliver 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks to Germany. He approved a corresponding export request. This paves the way for the tank deal. However, the decommissioning only takes place because the tanks can be resold to the German manufacturer Rheinmetall.
The tanks are not intended for Ukraine. Germany has assured that the tanks sold will not go to Ukraine, the Federal Council wrote in a statement. Instead, the tanks would “remain in Germany or with NATO or EU partners to plug our own gaps.” The state government also emphasized that the exports are in accordance with the approval criteria of the War Materials Act.
Mothballed in Eastern Switzerland
The tanks come from a reserve of 96 decommissioned Leopard 2 battle tanks that were mothballed in eastern Switzerland years ago.
The Swiss army would now use 71 for itself. The original idea: 34 main battle tanks should be reactivated and modernized for the troops. In addition, it is planned to prepare 12 units for training and use another 25 as spare parts and assembly donors.
A recent Army report also highlights the option of upgrading “up to 62” of the 71 tanks to maintain their value and reinforcing additional troops with main battle tanks and converting them into mechanized battalions.
The bottom line is that in both variants there are still 25 Lions left that can be passed on. The Swiss army itself currently has 134 Leos in service.
Emotional debate beforehand
The decision was preceded by an emotional debate in the Federal Palace. The SVP actually didn’t want to know anything about the deal. “This smells like exchanging rings and is sensitive in terms of neutrality policy,” SVP State Councilor Werner Salzmann (61, BE) warned in the small room. In vain he demanded that all 96 tanks mothballed in eastern Switzerland be transferred to his own army.
Center councilor Andrea Gmür (59, LU) responded: “We can send a positive signal to our European partners.” This makes sense not only in terms of foreign policy, but also in terms of security policy. And Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) made it clear: “We can contribute to the security of Europe and therefore also Switzerland.”
Germany wants tanks back
Germany in particular had asked Switzerland if it could take over some of the tanks that were lying idle in eastern Switzerland. The Swiss Leos are intended to replace tanks that Berlin has supplied to Ukraine. Economy Minister Robert Habeck (54) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (63) had assured Switzerland in advance in a letter that they would not forward the tanks to Ukraine, but would rather leave them in Germany or other EU or NATO states and fill gaps.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
