After Ukraine’s military successes, Germany criticized for arms delivery

Published on : 12/09/2022 – 17:52

While Ukraine has been announcing military successes against Russian forces for several days, in particular due to the use of Western armaments, debates in Germany have resumed on the possible cessation of deliveries of combat tanks, which no country has not decided yet. Because although Berlin participates in Western support, the government of Olaf Scholz is regularly criticized for a support that would be too cautious: the United States or Poland have played a more important role.

With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibault

« Germany must play a leading role in NATO “: in a speech Monday, September 12 in the morning on German military strategy, the Minister of Defense wants to be ambitious. But when asked about battle tank deliveries Leopard 2 to Ukraine, Christine Lambrecht has returned to Berlin’s usual response for weeks: no one alone. Same response from Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after.

But some wonder if the necessary coordination with NATO partners put forward by Germany does not hide Berlin’s reluctance.

The military successes of Ukraine in recent days revived a debate on greater support, with the delivery of combat tanks. During his visit to Kyiv last weekGerman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was confronted with this request without being able to provide an answer to her interlocutors.

The Greens and the Liberals, present in the coalition of Olaf Scholz, plead for greater effort with the delivery of Marder and Leopard 2 tanks. This line is also defended by the Conservatives in the opposition, but Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democrats are much more reserved.

Also read and listen: What is the amount of military aid provided to Ukraine?

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.