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
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.
IOF issues large-scale evacuation orders for residents of 14 areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli media say that for second time in span of hours, a ballistic missile is launched from Yemen toward "Israel".
Israeli media say large explosion heard in central "Israel".
Israeli media: Missile launch from Yemen takes place at end of Yahya Saree's announcement.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in occupied Al-Quds.
Saree: Escalation of aggression on Gaza and the massacres committed necessitate urgent action by the [Arab-Islamic] nation to fulfill its moral and religious duty.

Germany to deliver 88 Leopard I tanks to Kiev

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Feb 2023 17:32
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Germany is sending dozens of Leopard I tanks in the wake of policy changes regarding the supply of tanks to Ukraine.

  • x
  • Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank. (Wikimedia Commons)
    Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (Wikimedia Commons)

The German Bundestag voted to supply Kiev with 88 Leopard 1 tanks, a government spokesperson said Friday.

"I can confirm that an export license has been issued", government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a press briefing.

Local sources reported earlier on Friday that Berlin had voted to approve private arms maker Rheinmetall’s plan to sell 88 of Leopard 1s to Ukraine after maintenance work is completed.

The cost is reported to amount to over €100 million.

This comes against the backdrop of major policy changes undergone in Germany's approach regarding supplying Ukraine with tanks following months of pressure from Western allies. 

On January 25, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued the announcement that Berlin would supply Kiev with 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks as part of a European coalition.

This, however, may generate some serious logistics issues, as Leopard 1s are no longer being manufactured. 

Some notable differences between the older and newer versions include the size and caliber of the tank shells. 

As it is using its Leopard 1s, Germany struck a deal with Oslo to supply the latter with 54 Leopard 2 tanks.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Friday announced his country's decision to acquire 54 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, with the option of buying 18 more, the NRK broadcaster reported earlier in the day.

Store has confirmed that Norway would purchase 54 units of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany worth 19.7 billion Norwegian Krone ($1.96 billion) to bolster the country’s defense, the report said.

Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said last week that Oslo would send Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev, but did not specify the quantity.

Related News

Iran warns UN of retaliation over Israeli threats to nuclear sites

CIA main gate shut amid reported shooting

Read more: 'Ukraine can’t retake Crimea', Pentagon says during classified brief

The Bundestag is likewise considering purchasing back 15 Gepard tanks it sold to Qatar.

Yet doing so is questionable because ammunition for these tanks is made in Switzerland, which has refused to approve re-exports to Kiev on grounds that it would compromise its neutral status.

Some Swiss lawmakers are nonetheless lobbying to change this. 

In line with a coalition of European countries, Germany had previously announced a week ago it would approve the supply of around 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, as well as 14 of its own tanks.

In turn, the Russian Embassy in Germany cautioned that “this extremely dangerous decision shifts the Ukrainian conflict to a new level of standoff,” adding that "Berlin’s choice to supply tanks to Kiev means the final rejection of Germany’s historical responsibility to the Russian people."

The Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, warned that the delivery will become another "blatant provocation" against Russia and warned that the Russian military would destroy the equipment.

Since the tanks are manufactured in Germany, other allies or private firms willing to send them to Ukraine are required to obtain Germany's approval. 

Over the past months, Kiev has been pressuring the West to supply it with hundreds of tanks, saying it needs to be prepared in the advent of a potential Russian counter-offensive due this Spring. 

The Spanish government announced Wednesday that it had plans to send up to six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine, while discussing plans with the country's military industry, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported.

On January 26, the United States reported it would send Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks and eight M88 recovery vehicles, noting that the delivery would take considerable time.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also announced on January 15 that the UK would supply Kiev with some of its own Challenger 2 tanks.

Read more: EU to train 30,000 Ukrainian troops, doubling former pledge

  • United States
  • Leopard I
  • Nato
  • Spain
  • Leopard II
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • Norway
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

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT
Technology

Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT

Ireland's Simon Harris speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Ireland’s deputy premier accuses Israeli government of genocidal acts

Israeli occupation forces near military vehicles at the Gaza border (AP)
Palestine

WSJ: War fatigue grows in 'Israel' 19 months into war on Gaza

The facade of Trump Tower is shown in New York, Friday, March 22, 2024 (AP/Ted Shaffrey)
MENA

Trump Tower in Damascus: Inside Syria’s bold proposal

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