Media: Switzerland allowed Germany to export 42 Leopard tanks. The decision is related to the supply of weapons to Ukraine

Switzerland authorities allowed Germany to export 42 Leopard tanks to third countries. This decision is connected with the weapons supplies of the Ukrainian army, reflecting the Russian invasion. We are talking about tanks that the Swiss army used to use, writes Tagesanzeiger.ch . The permission to transfer this armored vehicle to the third party was issued by the Ministry of Defense, Civil Defense and Sports of Switzerland. It is assumed that Leopard will receive Poland in return for Soviet -made tanks transferred by the Ukrainian army.

42 Tanks Leopard 2 A4 were sold to the German manufacturer Rheinmetall in 2010-2011. Before that, 120 mm guns, volley fire, machine guns, on-board communication systems and other equipment were dismantled from them. These components remained in Switzerland as spare parts for similar tanks.

Earlier it was reported that Rheinmetall sent a request to the German request to the sale of tanks to Ukraine.

Switzerland on the transfer of weapons made concessions not only in Germany, but also of Great Britain. The authorities of the two countries agreed that 30% of the NLAW anti -tank missile systems ordered by Switzerland from the manufacturer Saab will be transferred to the UK for the speedy replenishment of its reserves. Before that, the British sent a large amount of anti -tank weapons to Ukraine. Switzerland will fully receive NLAW complexes only in the fourth quarter of 2024, and not at the beginning of 2023, as planned.

Earlier, Switzerland refused to transfer Leopard tanks to Poland, which before this gave part of the Soviet -model tanks to Ukraine. Also, the Swiss authorities blocked the supply of Ukraine by Dania of armored floating vehicles Piranha III Swiss production. Copenhagen hoped to transfer 20 such armored vehicles to the Ukrainian army. For this, the authorities of Denmark turned to the Swiss State Secretariat on Economic Affairs (Seco) for resolution, but received a refusal.

Seco explained his decision by Swiss neutrality and also referred to the law on military materials. It prohibits weapons export to warring countries. In early April, Seco in the same way refused Germany to transfer ammunition to Ukraine for Gepard anti -aircraft self -propelled guns, although the ZSU itself is not Swiss, but German production.

In the leadership of Switzerland there are disputes about whether it is necessary to more actively provide military assistance to Ukraine. “This is not about the direct export of weapons, but about weapons, which Switzerland has already sold to friendly democracies. This weapon will be transferred to the country that is protected from the aggressor, ”says State Advisor Pirmin Bishof. He is supported by the leader of the parliamentary group of the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland Tian Moser.