Scholz can no longer prevent the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks

Olaf Scholz

The chancellor is reluctant to bow to public pressure.

(Photo: Bloomberg)

Anyone who expected Olaf Scholz to use his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos to announce the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine has not heard of the chancellor. He’s reluctant to do what everyone expects of him, let alone bow to public pressure. Stubbornness is the hallmark of his chancellorship.

So it happened in Davos as it had to happen. Scholz talked, talked and talked, listing just about every weapon system that Germany had equipped Ukraine with in eleven months of war. But the word everyone wanted him to say never slipped his lips: Leopard 2. The German tank, developed during the Cold War, could be what military pundits are calling a “game changer.” He could change the course of the war.

The Leopard 2 is used by many European armed forces, there are around 2000 of them in Europe. The Leopard 2 is clearly superior to most Russian tanks. Even if only a tenth of it were delivered, Ukraine could break through the recently frozen front and retake lands stolen from Russia.

So why is Scholz hesitating? Isn’t it the stated aim of the western partners to train Ukraine to do just that?

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In Davos, Scholz once again referred to the coordination among the western allies and the risk of escalation. “The Ukrainians can count on our support in their brave fight, but it is also clear that we want to avoid a war between Russia and NATO,” said Scholz.

>> Read also: That’s how many Leopard 2 tanks the European NATO countries have

But he will know for himself that he won’t last much longer with this attitude. He can perhaps delay the delivery of battle tanks, but he can no longer prevent them. The federal government is also expecting that the leopard taboo will fall, if not now, then soon.

Scholz provided the decisive argument himself

The chancellor would prefer it if he could line up behind the Americans, as with almost all previous arms aid. On Friday, the United States will present a new military package for Ukraine at the Allies’ meeting in Ramstein.

But the Americans have not yet delivered the US battle tank, the Abrams. They point to logistical reasons, the Abrams eats up a lot of fuel, and there is a lack of spare parts in Europe.

So the ball is back in Scholz’s hands. The subtle irony of the tank debate is that the chancellor himself made the decisive argument for doing what he is reluctant to do.

If Germany is not allowed to go it alone, as the chancellor emphasizes, then that now means yes to tank exports. Poles, Danes and Finns want to hand over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The Brits are sending their own model, the Challenger 2. It would be going it alone if you continued to lag behind.

More: Scholz is pushing for US battle tanks for Ukraine – but Biden hesitates

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