The delivery of "Leopard" tanks was not decided during the Ramstein meeting. According to Oliver Neuroth, it is shameful that Germany is only now reviewing the supplies. However, the discussion should not be limited to tanks.
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| United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the press conference after Ramstein Conference, Germany |
Yes, there were some disappointing moments at the Ramstein summit. Almost a year after the Russian incursion in Ukraine began, the German government is unable to specify how many Leopard tanks Germany could deliver. That is humiliating. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is immediately convening specialists in his office to examine this issue.
Of course, it should have happened under his predecessor, Christine Lambrecht, a long time ago. One can only speculate as to why she did not. Perhaps she lacked forethought for the job. Chancellor Scholz, on the other hand, has never really contemplated sending "Leopard" tanks to Ukraine. Long pauses on this subject risk isolating Germany within NATO. Germany's most significant ally is likewise delaying the delivery of combat tanks: the United States is not deploying any "Abrams" to Ukraine.
This is partly due to the fact that these tanks are tough to maintain and burn a lot of fuel - hardly ideal circumstances for a mission to Ukraine. However, we do not know if the US government's choice would have been substantially different if its main battle tanks were simpler to manage.
The US announced its new $2.5 billion aid package for Ukraine in Ramstein, which includes around 60 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and 90 Stryker wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. In the current scenario, that appears to be reasonable support.
Germany has similar intentions, including 40 "Marder" armored personnel carriers, more "Geparden," and a "Patriot" anti-aircraft system. The present argument should not be limited to main combat tanks.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made the same point at Ramstein. Even if some traffic light coalition defense specialists see little possibility for escalation in a "Leopard" delivery, we simply don't know how Russia would react to it. The Kremlin's signals are far too hazy.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who stated in Ramstein that every measure in this scenario must be carefully weighed, did not disappoint. This is not a case of procrastination. Simply said, Germany does not want to be sucked into this conflict.