Why Won’t Germany Send Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine?
Why so much drama surrounding Leopard 2? Recently, the West has made one of its most significant pledges to Ukraine regarding heavy weaponry. Washington expressed support for Kyiv’s efforts to take back the country. Crimea. Eastern European nations aim to send tanks to the country for mechanized offensives akin to Ukraine’s campaigns in Kharkiv and Kherson.
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Ukraine’s battlefield success in late 2022 has not deterred Russia Its imperial ambitions.
This is why a coalition One in 50 countries has recognized that Ukraine requires weapons not only to repel Russian invasion, but also to win wars and convince Moscow to be fair. One of Kyiv’s biggest requests to that effect is the German-produced Leopard 2 tanks.
Germany, however, is reluctant to send weapons and the Leopard 2 tank. Berlin uses the argument to distract attention from their problem with Russian influence. Moscow reaps the benefits of the conflict.
Leopard 2: Why is it So Important
The Leopard 2 One of the most efficient tanks ever made. Numerous European countries have these systems and the logistics chains to repair or replenish them. Despite having the systems, the German government is reluctant to send them. This despite a promise by several NATO states to send multiple systems together. Scholz’s government has insisted that it won’t give the green light on Leopards unless Abrams tanks are sent simultaneously by the Biden administration.
The biggest problem with sending Abrams They are that require jet fuelIt is also prohibitively costly. Abrams are nearly exclusive to American forces. Therefore, training Ukrainians to use Abrams would take more time. However, the Leopards are more adaptable and have a stronger logistical system, especially in Eastern Europe.
Beyond the Leopard 2: German American Disputes
The tank dispute is only Berlin and Washington’s latest disagreement. Then-President Donald Trump criticized then-Chancellor Angela Merkel over Europe’s dependence on American aid and military bases in Europe. In 2018, he was mocked by German diplomats at the United Nations for pointing out Berlin’s energy dependence on Russia, even as many predicted Moscow would use energy as a weapon against Europe in the future.
Since Russia’s invasion, the U.S has been Kyiv’s major backer, with the provision of javelins and HIMARS Systems helping Ukraine turn It won the war.
Ukraine recently asked for weapons that would enable it to launch a full-scale offensive. Operation combined arms will be necessary to liberate Zaporizhzhia’s flat lands as well as the Donbas and Crimea areas that are well-defended. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, has asked specifically for Leopards. coalition of countries recently pledged to send these tanks once they have the green light from Germany — but the ruling SPD party is holding back that permission.
Business Insider reported Christine Lambrecht, former German Defense Minister, stopped the German military making an inventory on the Leopards. Berlin has also spoken out. fears Their tanks will be used against Russian territory, despite Ukrainian claims that they only want to liberate their country.
Germany: Nostalgia for Russia
Perhaps a major problem is Germany’s close recent relations with Russia – a relationship largely expressed through partnership with Gazprom – as well as historical ties Going back to the Cold War East German residents indoctrinated by the Soviet system assumed leadership positions in Germany after the country’s reunification and continued pursuing strong relations with Moscow, even when the Kremlin continued its imperial push. The AfD is the extreme right and Die Linke is the far-left are the largest. pro-Russian parties Europe The AfD visits Participates in Russian events and the Kremlin. Die Linke retains its links to Russia because of Soviet nostalgia. The AfD is one the major far-right European parties that Putin has endorsed. supports.
The German chancellors have been subject to harsh scrutiny over their ties with Moscow. Gerhard Schroder, former Chancellor, was closely associated with the Kremlin. He worked in Russian state-owned enterprises after his chancellorship. Also, he played a crucial role in the establishment of German-Russian relations in energy after the Cold War. Olaf Scholz, the current Chancellor, has been there. dismissed Because of his close ties to Moscow Schroder is being called upon to apply sanctions.
Angela Merkel’s past and her policies with regards to Russia have proven to be a big problem. At first, she was sympathetic to the Soviet Union. member Merkel, the Marxist-Leninist group of the Free German Youth (German Youth), never wavered from her policies in regard to the Nord Stream pipeline and Putin’s aggression. This set of policies includes a veto of Ukraine’s NATO membership bid in 2008 –- a costly decision, considering Russia historically has never invaded a country under the NATO umbrella.
Failure to Realize they’re too Dependent on the U.S
The German government is too stubborn not to admit that they are so dependent on the U.S military for Germany’s own security. Germany is a top-five world economy but has failed to meet the agreed spending requirements. 2% of GDP NATO members are required to contribute to defense. For example, Estonia and Greece have met the GDP requirements despite economic turmoil and inflation. 2018 saw a close examination of the GDP requirement, as only five NATO members had met it. allocation requirements. When Russia invaded Ukraine, other members started to make strides toward fulfilling defense requirements and remilitarizing — but Berlin once again failed It will meet its obligations in 2023.
The war in Ukraine is now a matter of public record duel of artilleryAs such, tanks Infantry fighting vehicles are becoming more important. Russian propaganda used German indecisiveness as a psychological win, especially since their current assaults Bakhmut and Soledar have been the most talked about.
Germany has shown once more that it is not ready to manage its own security without the assistance of the American defense industry. With the U.S. preparing an operational focus on reinforcing European leaders need to organize themselves for the Asia Pacific. Washington can’t be there for them forever.
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Julian McBride is a forensic anthropologist and independent journalist born in New York. He records and documents the suffering of people all over the world affected by conflict, rogue geopolitics and war. He also tells the stories and experiences of war victims whose voices have never been heard. Julian is the director of Reflections of War Initiative, an anthropological NGO that aims to share the stories of victims of war through art therapy. As a former Marine, he uses this technique not only to help heal PTSD but also to share people’s stories through art, which conveys “the message of the brutality of war better than most news organizations.”
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