After a very long hesitation and months of hesitation, Germany finally gave permission to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine; According to many, these vehicles can literally change the fate of the war. The election of Chancellor Olaf Scholz was not a simple one and marked a shift not only in Berlin’s foreign policy strategies, but also in a real change of mindset.
Since the defeat of Nazism, Germany has a kind of guilt about participating in any war, the idea that its army could participate in a conflict has been making the political forces and the public uneasy, the unrest has become even stronger and more evocative. In this case, given that the enemy will be Russia, which, as in the time of the Führer, was conducting exactly what he called the “denazification” campaign. And the fact that several German soldiers have been involved in high-profile cases of far-right extremism lately hasn’t helped improve the situation.
The leader of the SPD tried every possible way to avoid having to make this decision, but the pressure on him not only from the European Union’s allies but also from other Western powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States was now crucial. very strong. In fact, Germany not only refused to personally send the vehicles Volodymyr Zelensky requested with no, but also prevented countries like Poland from doing the same, since the export of these military weapons required OK from Berlin. It also means by other governments.
At a meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week, the United States and other members of the Alliance lobbied heavily for Scholz’s submission, but even at that forum the chancellor was adamant, highlighting the first serious division in the country. . The West is on support for Kiev. But the negotiations and pressure continued, and the long-awaited breakthrough finally took place. The main reason for the change seems to be that Joe Biden has guaranteed that the United States will now still ship US-made Abrams M1 tanks, even if it takes years or even months to deliver.
From a geopolitical point of view, it is a guarantee for Berlin that Vladimir Putin’s Russia cannot say that Germany alone sent these war vehicles that would be at the center of the Kyiv counteroffensive; this is a scenario that could lead to the emergence of the nation. as a rightful party in the conflict. Leopards will be central in the West’s hopeful attempt to reclaim lost territory in the Donbass and potentially in the Crimea. And here lies the critical point.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United States and Europe have sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev, including heavy artillery, missile launchers, millions of shells, air defense and combat vehicles for infantry. But they always avoided weapons or equipment that could be used to strike Russian territory and lead to a dangerous prolongation of the war.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and although the annexation was never recognized by the West, it was actually tolerated, and Germany, then led by Angela Merkel, continued to deepen its trade relations with Moscow, especially when it comes to gas. Enough to approve the expansion of Nord Stream with the construction of a second pipeline. If the possible reconquest of the lands annexed last year can be more easily accepted by Putin (even though there have never been concrete openings in this sense and for Moscow they are now officially part of the federation), Crimea’s leader is in Crimea. The Kremlin could increase the risks and raise the level of threats to the West. Therefore, it has not been ruled out that the guarantees from Zelensky may have come to the fore.
But as often happens, the reasons for Germany’s hesitation will be economic as well as geopolitical. Hundreds of tanks (about 300 are mentioned to counter the anticipated Russian spring offensive) will need to be replaced, which the West may soon be able to send to Ukraine. But the German defense industry may not be fast enough to produce enough vehicles to timely replenish all Allied stocks. And this could mean a great opportunity for the Americans to be able to deliver their Abrams faster, which could lead to a change in the entire structure of the country’s military that could demand them, because then they would also have to be changed in training, supply. chains and maintenance contracts.
“You’re not only buying the tanks, but also the entire logistics chain, spare parts, vehicles and maintenance. I can imagine it will be easier for a few countries to switch to the future Abrams X model.” Markus Richter, a German officer, warned that Leopard had Abrams-1 tanks in stock.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
