Germany’s consent is needed for the export of Leopard 2 battle tanks, which are also in use by Finland. Germany probably wants to align with the United States on the matter, researcher Minna Ålander says.
Britain becomes the first western country to send battle tanks to Ukraine. The British Prime Minister’s Office announced the matter today, Saturday.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed the matter today by phone with the President of Ukraine to Volodymyr Zelensky with. Britain’s decision sends the right signal, Zelenskyi writes on Twitter.
A researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Minna Ålander’s thinks Britain’s decision is a “dam breaker”, the background of which may be the desire to get a wider movement for sending battle tanks.
– It has been seen that Ukraine will need Western-made tanks sooner or later, because the old Soviet equipment will run out at some point. A decision (on sending tanks) must be made at some point, says Ålander.
Germany pledged the decision to send battle tanks
Especially the chancellor of Germany and the country By Olaf Scholz a decision on sending Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine has been awaited. Germany’s consent is also required for the export of Leopards in use in Finland.
Bloomberg magazine (you will switch to another service) predicts on Friday (thing behind the paywall) that Germany would make a decision on the matter during the next week.
Britain’s decision takes away from Germany one reason why battle tanks should not be sent, says Ålander. From Germany’s point of view, however, the US position on the matter is even more important.
– It seems that Scholz in a certain way wants the blessing of the United States and does not want to take new steps without very close coordination with the United States. But it seems that there has been a lot of coordination recently around these issues.
Germany and the United States decided to send Marder assault tanks to Ukraine at the beginning of the year.
Ålander: Finland’s share of Leopard exports is probably small
The president of the Republic Sauli Niinistö said earlier in an interview with STT that Finland could be involved in sending battle tanks if a common European policy is reached. However, according to him, Finland’s share could not be quantitatively very large.
Minister of Defense Mikko Savola (central) wrote On Twitter on Friday, (you will switch to another service) that Germany’s role is central in the Leopard decision also in terms of replacement equipment.
– If an international coalition to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine is created, Finland’s contribution will be needed. It must be remembered that it is a whole weapon system. That’s why the support must be coordinated together, says Savola.
In Ålander’s opinion, Finland probably could not send many battle tanks to Ukraine. Each of them has its own place in national defense, and it is difficult to replace them quickly. Finland could still have ways to participate in other ways.
– The benefit of such a Europe-wide “Leopard coalition” is that Finland could otherwise participate in, for example, (tank) maintenance, logistics and perhaps also training, says Ålander.
Read more:
Correspondent’s analysis: Germany’s Scholz fears sending Leopards to Ukraine, but pressure is now growing among their own
President Niinistö on Leopards: If a joint aid project is created, Finland’s contribution will also be needed – but the amount cannot be large