Discussion about arms delivery and if Poland simply delivers the tanks

An export of Leopard tanks from Poland to Ukraine would not be something Secretary of State Baerbock would like to stop. Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has entered the debate over the Leopard tanks: Should countries that own the German tank model decide to deliver them to Ukraine, Germany would not object, she said in an interview with French TV Transmitter LCI. However, is it really that simple to sell through third parties?.

The Federal Foreign Minister stated that although the question has not yet been raised, if it were, he or she would not object. Robert Habeck, a vice chancellor and party colleague, had previously stated something similar.

Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, has since declared that they intend to submit an application for an export permit for the tanks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far been hesitant to respond to the question, so Baerbock did not make the same request again on Monday.

The Chancellor stated this past weekend while on a visit to Paris that action is only taken in close coordination with Western partners in. T-Online provides answers to the most crucial queries regarding the precise operation of the federal government's approval process for tanks.

Poland is one of the nations that is most interested in supplying Ukraine with Leopard tanks. Prime Minister Morawiecki stated over the weekend that they are open to forming a "smaller coalition" with other nations if necessary.

The countries that make up this "smaller coalition" are currently unknown. According to the Polish Ministry of Defense, representatives from 15 different nations held discussions using Leopard tanks in Ramstein.

These could be transferred to Ukraine in accordance with mutual agreements. According to reports, the nation is prepared to part with 14 of its 247 Leopard tanks to the alliance.

Finland has also stated that it will deliver if Germany agrees. Finland currently owns about 200 Leopard 2 tanks. Over the weekend, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania pleaded with Germany to send the Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine right away.

However, these tanks are not present in the three Baltic States. The same holds true for Great Britain, which had already disclosed the delivery of 14 Challenger 2 tanks.

In the summer, Spain also suggested that older Leopard tanks might be put up for sale. However, according to Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, that is not currently a problem. He made this statement recently at the world economic forum in Davos.

However, it must also be made clear that the quantities suggested are insufficient from the perspective of Ukraine. According to Valeriy Zalushny, the supreme commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, 300 unspecified tanks, 600 to 700 armored personnel carriers, and 500 howitzers would be required for Ukraine to defeat Russia. Zalushny made this statement in a December interview with the "Economist.".

Why is Germany even required to consent to a delivery? In theory, the Basic Law (Art. 26 (2)) specifies that the Federal Government's approval is required before any weapons for warfare may be "manufactured, promoted, or marketed" in Germany.

In essence, the following is true: The federal government's approval is required for all business transactions in the German armaments industry. This still holds true if tanks or other weapons were manufactured in Germany but are now located elsewhere.

Before purchasing the weapons, recipient nations like Poland must guarantee Germany in a declaration that the weapons will not change hands without German consent. The ability to conduct on-site inspections to determine whether the rules are being followed has been granted to the federal government since 2015.

A preliminary inquiry must be made first if an armaments company or a state is interested in transferring German weapons, according to the general procedure for approval. On Monday, the Polish government declared that it would submit an application for a permit to export Leopard tanks.

Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has entered the debate over the Leopard tanks: Should countries that own the German tank model decide to deliver them to Ukraine, Germany would not object, she said in an interview with French TV Transmitter LCI.