Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia
US Vice President JD Vance: There is currently no security infrastructure in place to ensure the disarmament of Hamas
Israeli occupation forces said that "ceasefire in Gaza begins to be re-implemented."

Arming Ukraine would leave Germany unable to meet NATO goals: Berlin

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Apr 2022 17:43
3 Min Read

Ukraine is still trying to seek arms from Germany, asking for infantry fighting vehicles from Berlin despite the latter stressing that it could not provide as its arms could not suffice for its NATO membership.

  • x
  • A German Marder IFV
    A German Marder IFV

Berlin supplying Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles from its own national stock would leave Germany underequipped and unable to fulfill its obligations under NATO, the country's deputy chief of staff said on Wednesday.

"We would no longer be able to react to eventualities, and that would significantly weaken our defensive capability," stressed Lieutenant General Markus Laubenthal.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had come under fire over his refusal to send heavy weapons to Ukraine from his country's stock, though his decision was backed by the German military.

According to the official, if Germany were to do that, it would be unable to defend itself, promising Ukraine some one billion euros to buy weapons instead.

"The claim the Bundeswehr is no longer able to deliver anything to Ukraine is incomprehensible," said Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk.

There are proposals surrounding Germany's refusal to provide Ukraine with tanks, among which is Berlin giving Kiev 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

Kiev had schemed to buy 100 decommissioned Marders from German defense firm Rheinmetall. However, the manufacturer said they needed to be restored and it would be several months before they would be operational.

Related News

UK to grant military new powers to shoot down unidentified drones

Germany mulls buying 15 F-35s as Berlin seeks to modernize air force

In response, Ukraine proposed an arrangement that would see Germany sending 100 of its operation Marders to Ukraine and take the restored vehicles in their place, though Scholz rejected this offer.

The Ukrainian ambassador underlined that Germany had 400 Marders, 100 of which Berlin only used for training and were "expendable" and could easily be sent to Ukraine.

Launbenthal rebutted these claims, asserting that Germany was using its extra Marders for spare parts to keep its armed forces operational.

"That means we are using them, so to speak, so that we can actually deploy those we need for our Nato obligations and on Nato's eastern flank," he stressed.

Military experts have also warned Berlin that supplying ammunition for any Marders given to Ukraine would cause several issues and would be challenging for the country, especially since the army's stocks are low, leaving Germany high and dry.

The political row seems to be unlikely to fade away anytime soon for Scholz, with rumors emerging about the opposite Christian Democrats planning to force a parliament vote over sending arms to Kiev.

Scholz's coalition itself has mixed views on the issue, which makes it very likely for him to lose the vote and be forced by the Bundestag to arm Ukraine despite his citations of the scarcity of arms.

In light of the war in Ukraine and according to a study conducted by INSA pollsters at the request of Bild am Sonntag, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's popularity rating has reached its lowest point since he took office last December, with over half of the people dissatisfied with his policies.

Right-wing National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen called on Friday for ending France's weapons manufacturing cooperation with Germany, citing divergent visions over the future of Europe's security.

  • Nato
  • CDU
  • Olaf Scholz
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • Ukraine
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, killing seven Palestinians.

Israeli occupation violates Gaza ceasefire, kills seven Palestinians

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK blocks release of documents on secretive Lammy-Sa’ar meeting.
Politics

UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

Colombia slams Trump’s drug accusation, defends sovereignty
Politics

Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims, defends sovereignty

The abuse was detailed in Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." (AP)
Politics

Epstein victim recounts choking, sexual assault by 'well-known PM'

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand near the airport President Donald Trump uses in Florida. (US Secret Service)
Politics

FBI probes hunting stand with sightline to Trump’s Air Force One exit

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS