> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.europeans.today/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why Germany dragged its feet over supplying Leopard tanks to Ukraine - URL: https://www.europeans.today/2023/01/30/why-germany-dragged-its-feet-over-supplying-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine/ - Published: 2023-01-30T02:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2023-01-31T01:51:35.000Z - Description: Why Germany needed US tanks to be offered to Ukraine and other intra-NATO issues around the decision to send tanks to Ukraine. - Author: Contribee - Tags: War in Ukraine, Germany, German Foreign Policy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Olaf Scholz, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine-Russia Crisis, United States ### Why Germany needed US tanks to be offered to Ukraine and other intra-NATO issues around the decision to send tanks to Ukraine. The decision [to provide heavy tanks to Ukraine](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-many-tanks-does-ukraine-have-why-more-now-79z65hrqx?ref=europeans.today) in significant numbers constitutes a step change in western military support for Ukraine. For the first time, western countries are providing substantial offensive capabilities to support a major campaign to regain lost territory. The decision has been long in coming. But for some months, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz resisted the decision to send German-made *Leopard 2* tanks to Ukraine. Even the *Nato* meeting held at [the Ramstein US air base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramstein%5FAir%5FBase?ref=europeans.today) in Germany on January 20 to discuss the issue ended [without a decision](https://www.dw.com/en/ramstein-talks-no-decision-on-german-tanks-for-ukraine/a-64468440?ref=europeans.today), much to the frustration of Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and some of Kyiv’s other western allies. In addition to a general fear of escalation, there was much public discussion of Germany’s [aversion to involvement in armed conflict](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/22/germany-will-never-get-shame-cowardice-ukraine/?ref=europeans.today) (understandable given its 20th-century history) and Berlin’s hopes to rebuild relations with Moscow eventually. But this is not the whole story. Scholz is keenly aware of Germany’s reliance on the US for its security. So he would only take such a major decision with clear US approval and – most importantly – with evidence that the [US would participate](https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/panzer-lieferungen-an-die-ukraine-olaf-scholz-setzt-auf-joe-biden-18629698.html?premium&ref=europeans.today) in a similar deal to supply its own tanks. Until this week, the US was adamant it wouldn’t send *Abrams* tanks to Ukraine, saying they were unsuited to the conditions of warfare there. Germany’s other problem is its relatively low stocks of *Leopard 2* tanks (about [320](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/europe/german-tanks-ukraine-intl/index.html?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=The%20German%20army%20has%20320,of%20Defense%20previously%20told%20CNN.&text=Germany%20will%20also%20allow%20other,the%20battle%20tank%2C%20it%20said.) for all of Germany’s own defence needs, down from 4,000 main battle tanks during the cold war period). Readying its existing stock for battle will take some time. But the underlying issue is that the Germans fear that if the various European states that have bought *Leopard 2* tanks from Germany supply them to Ukraine, they may well opt to replace their own inventories with US equipment instead. This would destroy a massive export market for Germany as the country exported 2,399 battle tanks [between 1992 and 2010.](https://warpp.info/en/m5/articles/german-tank-exports?ref=europeans.today) This is already in progress, in fact, as Poland announced the purchase of 116 *M1A1 Abrams* tanks with associated equipment with delivery starting this [year](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/01/04/poland-signs-deal-to-buy-2nd-batch-of-us-abrams-tanks/?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=The%20deal%20follows%20last%20years,already%20received%20Patriot%20missile%20batteries) in a deal worth $1.4 billion (£1.13 billion). There has also inevitably been some internal German politics involved. Securing the deal took the resignation of the previous German defence minister, Christine Lambrecht – who was strongly averse to allowing the *Leopards* to be used in Ukraine. Her replacement, Boris Pistorius, is in favour and is [backed by](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-germany-not-sending-tanks-ukraine-war-against-russia-chf5qhjsw?ref=europeans.today) German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, and vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck. Meanwhile in Washington, intense diplomatic activity by US secretary of defense, [Lloyd Austin](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/19/politics/us-germany-ukraine-tanks-weapons/index.html?ref=europeans.today) persuaded president Joe Biden to commit to sending 31 *Abrams M1* battle tanks to Ukraine. This was partly a leverage to persuade Germany to change its mind on [sending its ](https://amp.abc.net.au/article/101894198?ref=europeans.today)*[Leopards](https://amp.abc.net.au/article/101894198?ref=europeans.today)*. Initially, Germany will provide 14 *Leopard 2A6* tanks from its inventory, with the goal of eventually providing 112 [overall](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/what-tanks-will-ukraine-get-and-why-does-it-want-them/2023/01/25/49a59006-9cd5-11ed-93e0-38551e88239c%5Fstory.html?ref=europeans.today). Germany will deliver the most modern version of the *Leopard 2*, which is deemed the [most capable tank](https://www.forces.net/technology/land-vehicles/leopard-2-numbers-behind-arguably-worlds-best-tank?ref=europeans.today) in the modern world except for the US *M1 Abrams*. Poland has pledged another 14, and Norway will send spare parts and up to eight units. Between them, different European countries have a total of about [2,000 ](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/europe/germany-leopard-tanks-ukraine-impact-explainer-intl/index.html?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=Several%20armies%20use%20Leopards.,on%20Russian%20troops%20head%2Don.)*[Leopard 2](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/europe/germany-leopard-tanks-ukraine-impact-explainer-intl/index.html?ref=europeans.today#:%7E:text=Several%20armies%20use%20Leopards.,on%20Russian%20troops%20head%2Don.)* tanks. Ukraine is seeking 300 tanks overall – so far, 105 have been [pledged for delivery](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/world/europe/battle-tanks-ukraine.html?ref=europeans.today) in the next few months. The three types of tanks that Ukraine will receive each require very different training, with different supply chains for maintenance and operations. Once integrated, these tanks will combine with other top-of-the-range modern fighting machines supplied by western allies to make for a formidable armoured force. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2023/01/www-00235b.jpg) ###### Leopard 2A7 tank (KMW) at NATO Days 2022\. | [CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA/FRIC.MATEJ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tank%5FLeopard%5F2A7%5FNATO%5FDays%5F2022.jpg?ref=europeans.today) ### **Adding aircraft** Meanwhile, the issue of supplying aircraft is once again under discussion. Ukraine is pushing for the supply of *F-16* fighter jets and manufacturer *Lockheed Martin* has announced it is [stepping up production](https://www.ft.com/content/88d19145-5235-45e4-80e6-ade3530060d2?ref=europeans.today). This looks to be the next big issue on the agenda. The Netherlands has declared it is willing to supply *F-16s* if [requested](https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/netherlands-open-to-supplying-f-16-fighters-to-ukraine-if-requested?ref=europeans.today), and other European countries are exploring the idea of supplying Kyiv with their existing stocks of Soviet-era aircraft in return for being restocked with the US *F-16*. Military experts are [dubious, however](https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/01/25/air-defense-upgrades-not-f-16s-are-a-winning-strategy-for-ukraine/?ref=europeans.today), favouring mobile, ground-based air defences over expensive, fixed-wing aircraft and insisting that any attempt by Ukraine to gain air superiority would be a costly mistake. Washington has also made it clear that Ukraine needs to change its operational tactics. Senior US defence and national security officials met with Zelensky to suggest [ways to shift](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/ukraine-shift-tactics-bakhmut/index.html?ref=europeans.today) from drawn-out attritional battles, such as the one being played out at enormous cost in men and munitions in Bakhnut in the Donbas region, to a much more rapid mechanised warfare of the sort that brought Ukraine success in its autumn counteroffensive. ### **Deliveries will take months** Supplying tanks capable of that type of rapid manoeuvre warfare is designed to help Ukraine make that shift. The problem is that it is uncertain when the new armoured brigades will be available. Even the first deliveries will take several months – and the US tanks will probably not arrive until the autumn. So a shift in strategy may not be feasible in time for a spring offensive – Washington now seems resigned at the prospect of an extended [conflict](https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/no-one-would-win-long-war-ukraine?ref=europeans.today). The Kremlin downplayed the decision to send heavy tanks to Ukraine as a *“losing scheme”* – although the Russian ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev [sounded a warning note](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/world/europe/russia-ukraine-tanks.html?ref=europeans.today), condemning the German decision as *“highly dangerous”* and stating it *“takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation”*. Despite this defiant note, Russia’s war planners will be aware that their positions in Ukraine will come under increased pressure in the coming months. They will not have missed the message that *Nato*’s initial reluctance to use its considerable military assets to support Ukraine is ebbing away – and Russia cannot count on western war weariness to turn the tide in its favour. ![PMP Magazine](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2021/09/end-flat-1.png "PMP Magazine") --- | [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2022/08/feeback1-small-flatten-1.png)](https://forms.gle/tRe7igVtMPaiAPtJ8?ref=europeans.today "Leave some feedback") | [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2022/08/share-1-small-flatten.png)](#share "Share this article") | [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2022/08/comment4-small-flatten-2.png)](#comments "Leave a comment") | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- ### **— AUTHOR —** | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2023/01/dwedwdewe.jpg) | ▫ **Christoph Bluth*, Professor of International Relations and Security, University of Bradford.* | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --- ##### Sources ▪ **Text:* This piece was originally published in [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-germany-dragged-its-feet-over-supplying-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine-198521?ref=europeans.today) and re-published in PMP Magazine on 30 January 2023\. | The author writes in a personal capacity.* *▪ *Cover:* Flickr/[OSCE Parliamentary Assem](https://www.flickr.com/photos/oscepa/42369343135?ref=europeans.today). - Olaf Scholz. | 8 July 2018\. (Licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/?ref=europeans.today).)* ![Creative Commons License](https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png "Cover photograph license") ![The Conversation](https://counter.theconversation.com/content/198521/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic)