So, what’s up with the European leopard initiative ?
This Spiegel article claimed many other nations wouldn’t want to deliver after all. So I tried to find out what’s the status.
🐆🧵
spiegel.de/politik/deutsc…
The Spiegel article claims that although Poland has promised to deliver 14 leo tanks, it’s not willing to contribute to the training or maintenance.
But @laurapitel @HenryJFoy @maxseddon reported in Financial Times on 2 Feb that training will start in 🇵🇱&🇩🇪 next week
(Link to the FT article: ft.com/content/f7704b…)
Spiegel says the Netherlands hadn’t given a definite answer yet and idk exactly what’s the status so would appreciate additional info. On 19 Jan Dutch DefMin said 🇳🇱 could *pay* for leos for 🇺🇦
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Spiegel itself reports today that Portugal has promised to contribute some tanks, although exact number hasn’t been confirmed yet - apparently the maintenance status is an issue (like in Spain too).
spiegel.de/ausland/portug…
Denmark is now eyeing 80 of 99 old Leopard 1s which had been sold off to a German company and have been rusting in storage but could potentially be bought back and fixed to be combat-ready for Ukraine. But esp ammunition is a big❓
berlingske.dk/samfund/tyskla…
FYI @spiegelonline the Norwegian government has made an official statement to the effect that Norway will contribute. Exact number of tanks that Norway could deliver not specified.
regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/str…
Swedish DefMin has so far said Sweden doesn’t rule out also contributing at a later point. Sweden has already pledged 50 CV-90 armoured combat vehicles (NOT tanks 😉), which will complement MBTs and also play an important role.
dn.se/sverige/regeri…
The Spiegel article claims Finland isn’t going to deliver at all. I have so far not heard any official statement to the effect & 🇫🇮 Pres @niinisto has said that Finland would contribute, albeit in limited numbers because of the direct border with Russia & pending NATO membership
🇸🇪&🇫🇮 signed a bilateral MoU in Ramstein on using the joint operational planning of their Armed Forces so that Finland can keep delivering to Ukraine despite its own needs and Sweden will help out. Sounds like a potential Ringtausch scheme to me.
defmin.fi/files/5623/FIS…
Apropos Ringtausch: in Switzerland the idea is being debated that some of the 96 Swiss leopards could be sold to countries like Finland and Poland, to support their deliveries to Ukraine from their own stock. The motion was initially rejected but let’s see
aargauerzeitung.ch/aargau/kanton-…
To conclude: looks like things are moving and several leopard user countries are looking at ways to contribute. Why the preparation wasn’t started much earlier I don’t know.
The @derspiegel article seems to be partly inaccurate or at least to leave out quite many developments.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.