The Swiss Federal Council (government) approved the export of 25 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks to Germany.
However, with the condition that these combat vehicles do not get to Ukraine.
This decision was announced on the government website on Wednesday, November 22.
The tanks are to be sold to their original manufacturer, the German company Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH.
“Germany has given assurances that the tanks will remain either in Germany, with NATO, or with its EU partners to meet existing shortfalls,” the Swiss government stated.
In February this year, the German government asked the Swiss authorities to sell part of the decommissioned Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks back to the tank manufacturer, the German company Rheinmetall.
At the same time, the German side gave assurances that the tanks would not be transferred to Ukraine.
The press release of the Swiss government also separately notes that the tanks are not intended for Ukraine.
“The export of tanks abroad is subject to authorization under the provisions of the War Material Act. The export of these tanks to Germany is in line with the authorization criteria. Of crucial importance is the fact that Germany has assured that the tanks will remain in Germany, with NATO, or its EU partners,” the government stated.
It is worth noting that despite requests from Kyiv and allies, Switzerland has so far refused to allow countries that own Swiss-made weapons to re-export them to Ukraine.
In particular, in June 2023, Swiss parliamentarians did not support a bill that would have allowed third countries to transfer Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine. Most members of the lower house of the Swiss parliament, the National Council, rejected the parliamentary initiative.
In the same month, the Swiss Federal Council refused to sell 96 Leopard 1A5 tanks to RUAG on the basis of neutrality legislation. These tanks are now in Italy and are in a precarious condition. They were planned to be transported to Germany for restoration and then transferred to Ukraine as military assistance.