New start in Parliament
Switzerland should pass on mothballed tanks
Security politicians from left to right support the sale of Swiss Leopard tanks. They could close gaps in Poland or Germany. They shouldn’t be allowed to go to Ukraine.
Published: 16 minutes ago
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While Europe is desperately looking for Leopard tanks, 96 tanks are sitting unused in a hall in eastern Switzerland.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (64) had to struggle with himself for a long time. But now Berlin wants to send Leopard tanks to the Ukraine after all. Just like several other European countries. Wringing their hands, they are looking for more such monsters of steel to stop the Russian war of aggression.
Switzerland has such battle tanks – in abundance. For years, 96 Leopard 2 tanks have been mothballed in a hall in eastern Switzerland. However, for reasons of neutrality, the Federal Council has so far strictly forbidden the transfer of armaments to a warring party like Ukraine.
The first attempt still failed
It shouldn’t stay that way. Security politicians from several parties are mulling the idea of selling at least part of the tank fleet and making it available to those states that give their Leopards to Ukraine. Because this creates gaps in the arsenal of Switzerland’s European partner countries.
Last week, FDP National Councilor Maja Riniker (44) failed with a corresponding initiative in the Security Policy Commission. And that despite the fact that the Aargauerin had also set the condition that the Swiss tanks should not suddenly be used in the Ukraine war.
“This war affects the security of all of Europe”
The fact that Ukraine can continue to defend itself is also in Switzerland’s interest, Riniker emphasized to the “NZZ am Sonntag”. “This war affects the security of all of Europe.” Riniker expects that the Swiss army will still be able to use some of the 96 decommissioned Leopards. Even then, around a third would remain. “Switzerland can give this away. We just don’t need them.”
Riniker does not appear to be alone in this attitude. The “NZZ am Sonntag” refers to a survey by the Sotomo Institute. The Ukraine war seems to lead to a rethink. According to this, 55 percent of those surveyed said “yes” or “rather yes” to the question of whether the federal government should allow other countries to transfer Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine. 40 percent are against it.
Center left is open
FDP National Councilor Riniker wants to try again in Parliament. She is confident of finding a majority when the army message is up for debate from spring: “I have positive signals that we can find a good solution.”
In fact, the liberals seem to have found open ears on the centre-left. “We cannot use 25 to 30 of these leopards in the long term. They should be taken out of service and put on the market as normal, »Middle National Councilor Alois Gmür (67) is quoted as saying. He has no neutrality policy concerns about delivering tanks to Poland, for example: “You simply have to stay in Poland and are not allowed to get to Ukraine.”
The renewed attempt is likely to aim for Parliament to formally decommission the stored Leopard tanks. This step is a mandatory requirement so that the federal government can also sell them. (dba)