Wed, Nov 22nd 2023
25 Leopard 2 main battle tanks can be exported to Germany. The Federal Council gave the green light for this on Wednesday. Germany has given assurances that the tanks sold will not go to Ukraine, he writes.
The Leopard tanks will therefore go to the original manufacturer, Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH. They will then remain in Germany or with NATO or EU partners in order to fill their own gaps, according to the Federal Council’s announcement. The battle tanks will not be forwarded to Ukraine.
The export of tanks abroad is subject to the licensing criteria of the War Material Act. The export of these tanks to Germany is in line with these licensing criteria, as the Federal Council writes.
In February, German Economics Minister Robert Habeck and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius requested that some of the decommissioned Leopard 2 main battle tanks be sold back to the tank manufacturer. Parliament had approved the decommissioning of the tanks as part of the Army Dispatch 2023.
Defense Minister Viola Amherd said in parliament that the sell-back is correct in terms of neutrality law and makes sense in terms of neutrality policy. Switzerland was thus making a contribution to Europe’s security. It is in its interest if partner countries can strengthen their defense capabilities.
Following this decision and in accordance with the provisions of the War Material Act, the Federal Armaments Office (Armasuisse) submitted an application to the federal government for a license to export the tanks. This has now been approved by the Federal Council.
According to the Federal Council, the army currently operates 134 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, which were modernized as part of the 2006 armament programme. In addition, it has 96 decommissioned Leopard 2 main battle tanks that have not undergone value retention.
The SVP voted unanimously in parliament against the plan to export some of the decommissioned tanks. There were also a few no votes from the ranks of the FDP and the Center Party.
The minority argued that Switzerland could not do without the tanks. The war in Ukraine in particular shows that robust capabilities in this area are essential. The Swiss army needs enough battle tanks and a sufficient reserve.
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