Berlin should get Swiss tanks by now!

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FDP councilor Maja Riniker (44) has had many conversations and exercised a lot of persuasive power – with success. The National Council’s Security Committee accepted Riniker’s motion surprisingly clearly on Tuesday by a vote of 17 to 7 with one abstention. 25 Leopard main battle tanks will be dismantled.

This should lay the foundations for the resale of vehicles that are no longer needed in Switzerland to the manufacturer in Germany. Berlin had officially asked in Bern if Switzerland could make available some of the 96 “Leos” stored in eastern Switzerland. The Czech Republic is also interested.

Amherd and army chief are open

“Talks have been going on for a few weeks now,” says Riniker. “The committee members were able to get an overall picture.” It certainly helped that Defense Secretary Viola Amherd (60) was open to a deal. Switzerland could certainly do without part of its tank fleet, the center federal councilor had declared in the National Council.

Even army chief Thomas Süssli (56) came to that conclusion – unlike many of his officers. Until now, however, Süssli assumed there were about a dozen tanks Switzerland could do without. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense and the army have revised the number to 25. “It is important that the security of the country is maintained,” Riniker emphasizes. “And that would be the case here.”

Only Germany should be able to get a chance

The “Leos” would be used by the Germans as a replacement for the tanks they themselves had made available to Ukraine. This could probably also appease foreign countries. Numerous countries are dissatisfied with the fact that Switzerland has hitherto strictly prohibited the transfer of war materials ever sold.

And only Germany should be able to get a chance. By a narrow majority, the National Council Committee decided that the tanks would not be decommissioned until they were resold to the manufacturer. And: there should be no disadvantages for Switzerland in terms of full equipment, training and spare parts.

Many obstacles remain

The minority of the commission, on the other hand, continues to oppose the dismantling of the tanks. Should there be a need in the future, the army must be able to fall back on it. Prevention is better than cure.

But even with the clear approval of the National Council Commission, there are still a few hurdles before Germany can receive the tanks. For example, the Security Committee of the Council of States has so far been extremely sceptical. Commission President Werner Salzmann (60, SVP) still wants nothing to do with it. “We want to be defensible and not disarm,” he stressed on Twitter.

Source:Blick