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Leopard 2: As pressure mounts, Germany may not block Poland from sending tanks to Ukraine

As per a license agreement, countries cannot send tanks without Berlin's approval

Russia Ukraine War Weapons

Hinting at a possible breakthrough for Kyiv amid the Russian offensive, Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has said the country will “not stand in the way” of Poland sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Baerbock's remark comes amid mounting diplomatic pressure on Berlin to send the much-demanded tanks to Ukraine. A meeting of defence ministers at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, too, failed to reach a consensus as Berlin refused to take a decision on whether to deliver its tanks to Ukraine, leading to increased frustration among Western allies.

Why Poland needs Germany's permission

Though Poland had expressed willingness to send 14 Leopard tanks, which it imported from Germany, it would need the latter's permission to do so. Under a German license agreement, countries cannot send tanks without Berlin’s approval.

On Sunday, Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, criticised Germany’s attitude, terming it “unacceptable”. He said: “Innocent people are dying every day. Russian bombs are wreaking havoc in Ukrainian cities. Civilian targets are being attacked, women and children are being murdered.” Morawiecki said that Poland was awaiting a “clear statement” from Berlin, and added that if Germany continued to refuse to supply the tanks to Ukraine, “we will set up a ‘small coalition’ of countries ready to donate some of their modern equipment, their modern tanks”.

When asked in an interview with French television station LCI what would happen if Poland sent its Leopard 2 tanks without German approval, Baerbock replied through a translator: “For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way.”

Reputed to be one of the finest battle tanks in the world, the German-developed Leopard can destroy most Russian-built T-80t tanks at medium and long ranges, studies have shown. Currently, the Leopard 2 tanks are used by the German Army and its allies, including Poland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway, and Indonesia.

Ukraine has repeatedly urged its Western allies, including Germany and the US, to deliver battle tanks and more aid to combat the Russian forces. Germany has made it clear it will send Leopards to Ukraine only if the US agrees to send its M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv.

Why is Germany reluctant

Germany has repeatedly blocked the delivery of tanks due to its historic anti-militarism position, adopted after World War II. There is also a fear the war might escalate. According to a report by Al Jazeera, some analysts have said supplying the Leopards could further escalate the conflict with Russia. Russia has warned of an “extremely dangerous” escalation if NATO were to deploy high-tech weapons. Though the Germans have supported Ukraine in its fight, Berlin does not want to risk a direct confrontation with Russia.

Opinion polls also show that half of Germans do not want to send tanks, New York Times reported.

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