Thread by @vonderburchard

It's incredible. In my interview last Friday, I asked Defense Min Lambrecht why Berlin doesn't deliver at least armored vehicles like the "Dingo" to Ukraine — as France does.

Lambrecht insisted 🇩🇪 could not spare a single Dingo. Under pressure, she now agreed to send 50 [Thread]

The "Dingo" saga is yet another example of how the German government, when it comes to military support for Ukraine, continuously stonewalls and comes up with all sort of excuses why they can't do more — until they ultimately, when pressure gets too strong, cave and do more.

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Shortly after my interview, Lambrecht held a speech in Berlin in which she said that — in light of Ukraine's recent successes — she had examined once again whether Germany could do more, but concluded that it could not.

What a few days, and strong U.S. pressure, can change...
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This really makes me scratch my head: Why does the Scholz government always have to wait until pressure becomes unbearable? Why can't they be, for once, ahead of the curve?

And what does this episode say about Berlin's other arguments why they can't supply more weapons?

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Here's my interview with Lambrecht. She argued Germany can't send Dingos bcs she had sworn an oath to ensure Germany's defense capabilities, any many Dingos weren't ready anyhow

"I would very much like to be able to give significantly more to Ukraine."
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politico.eu/article/eu-sec…

Just to clarify: The Dingo is no tank (like the Leopard) & no infantry fighting vehicle (like the Marder), both of which Scholz still refuses to send to Ukraine, saying that no other ally sends such Western tanks.

It's an armored vehicle like France already sent in July.

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Here‘s the story: Germany will send 50 “Dingo” armored vehicles to Ukraine, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Thursday, marking another U-turn on military support for Kyiv just days after saying such a move was impossible.

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politico.eu/article/under-…