Germany asked Switzerland to buy 2 decommissioned Panther tanks. They could replace the armor provided to Ukraine by Germany and other EU countries. Parliamentary approval is required for the sale. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Economy Minister Robert Habeck have written to Federal Councilor Viola Amherd asking the Swiss Army to resell 2 Leopard tanks to manufacturer Rheinmetall. The letter is dated February 23, a spokesperson of the Union Department of Defense, Civil Defense and Sports (DDPS) informed Keystone-ATS. Bligh Friday.
The spokesman added that Ukraine has no plans to replace battle tanks. The final destination of the war equipment is guaranteed in Germany or in the partners of the North Atlantic Security Alliance, NATO and the European Union. These tanks are expected to replace tanks delivered to Ukraine and improve the supply of spare parts. The Ministry of Defense did not want to say how many tanks Germany wants to buy.
read more: Swiss arms re-export goes to parliament
Possible sale, according to the military
From the point of view of the Swiss Army, according to preliminary studies, it is possible to supply a small number of battle tanks. The condition for this is that Parliament dismisses them and reads the position. In a reply dated March 1, Defense Minister Viola Amherd said there had been no decision by parliament on formal demobilization for Germany. The discussion regarding this is currently going on in the Parliament. It cannot predetermine the possible outcome.
The Federal Council intends to take a position on the matter during Question Time in the Federal Chambers on Monday. Export of decommissioned munitions requires authorization from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the latter replied to a question. Parliament is also debating on making less stringent rules for the re-export of weapons.
Rejected by the committee
Trade in war materials in the wake of the war in Ukraine is a politically sensitive issue in Switzerland, an officially neutral country. In early February, the State Council’s Defense Policy Committee categorically rejected a similar request. The committee rejected the parliamentary initiative by 8 votes to 2. It called for the return of up to 30 of the 96 “Leopard 87 tanks” to Germany.
A majority of the commission preferred to keep these tanks as a strategic reserve. Moreover, such a sale would be a kind of circular action, in which Switzerland would favor a belligerent party, which would still, according to this majority, be contrary to the principle of neutrality. Minorities saw an opportunity to contribute to European security. The negative attitude of the majority should have changed little. Werner Salzmann (UDC/BE), chairman of the Diet’s defense policy committee, told Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) on Friday that he does not believe the tide has turned since the debate in February.
Our interview with Viola Amherd: Viola Amhert: “The ban on the re-export of weapons is not understood in Europe”
Stored in Eastern Switzerland
The four-seat Panther 2 is a German-designed heavy battle tank. It has been serially built since 1978. There are many variations. From 1987 to 1993, Switzerland introduced about 380 “Leos” to the troops. Meanwhile, the military has sold dozens of vehicles to Germany and Canada. 96 of them were withdrawn from service. They were last stored in a warehouse in eastern Switzerland. At the end of the year, the army was still equipped with 134 tanks of this type.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than a year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly appealed to the international community to provide warplanes and tanks in particular. Ukraine is to receive 18 modern Leopard 2 tanks from German military stocks. Together with allies Sweden and Portugal, Germany wants to supply Ukraine with a modern Leopard 2 tank battalion of 31 tanks. Poland integrates another battalion with 2 old-type Panther tanks.
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