Battle for our tanks

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Germany has officially asked Switzerland to mothball Leopard 2 main battle tanks. They are intended to replace tanks that Germany and other EU countries have supplied to Ukraine.

Federal Councilor Viola Amherd (60) reacted surprisingly openly – possibly because the Defense Minister feels the pressure from abroad like no other: at every meeting with her colleagues, as was the case at the Munich Security Conference, she is asked about the fact that Switzerland is about to show little solidarity with Ukraine.

Candy: “About a dozen”

From the military’s point of view, it is “basically possible to get by without a limited number of main battle tanks,” its Germany department now says. Army chief Thomas Süssli (56) spoke to Radio SRF on Friday of “just over a dozen”, but played the ball to politics. “From a military point of view, we need every tank, but ultimately it is a political consideration whether to give up main battle tanks or not.”

And it looks bad: for a deal with Berlin, Amherd needs an order from parliament to officially phase out the tanks. That should come from the Security Policy Committee of the National Council, which will examine the army report on March 27.

As of today, however, Amherd can only rely on SPler, GLPler and very occasionally on middle and FDP politicians. The rest say no.

Even the middle is understated

Even his own party is cautious. “We will discuss this in the Security Policy Committee – I think that only then will it become clear whether someone is going to request the decommissioning,” says group leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (44). So far, the committees have rejected it. Based on the army chief’s statements, the issue will certainly be openly discussed again at the army embassy.”

For Bregy, the most important question is what is needed. “If the military can do without it, it’s an idea worth considering. A resale to the country of origin shouldn’t be a problem in terms of neutrality law.”

Citizens have clear opinions

The other bourgeois politicians see it decidedly differently. SVP faction leader Thomas Aeschi (44), FDP chairman Thierry Burkart (47) and the chairmen of the security committees, Werner Salzmann (60) and Mauro Tuena (51), say in unison: Switzerland needs the tanks itself.

They are supported by the tank officers. “We already don’t have enough vehicles for all the troops today. There are also no reserves,” said Erich Muff, president of the Officers’ Society of the Panzer Troops. The decommissioned Leopard tanks would have to be reactivated.

Aside from that, Amherd has been accused of a certain lack of strategy. With a postulate, the Council of States asked her on Wednesday for a defense doctrine for the military. Amherd decided there wasn’t enough time until August. “I find it amazing that even though there is no doctrine, the DDPS already know they no longer need part of the tank fleet,” says Salzmann.

Source:Blick