The armored ring exchange of the NATO countries is not going as expected. Poland in particular accuses Germany of not keeping its promises. FDP defense expert Strack-Zimmermann sees too high expectations in the neighboring country.
The FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann accused Poland of exaggerated expectations when it came to the exchange of armored rings that had been agreed. “After all, we can’t cut the tanks we want out of our ribs,” said the chairwoman of the Bundestag defense committee of “Zeit”. The Polish government knows that too.
For the agreed exchange of rings – the relocation of Soviet T-72 tanks from Poland to the Ukraine – Poland initially wanted a one-to-one compensation by German “Leopard” 2 tanks, according to Strack-Zimmermann. “Later, the Polish representatives expected to get 44 to 58 ‘Leopard’ A4,” said Strack-Zimmermann. The federal government has “pledged 20 pieces in the course of 2023 because they first have to be made available”. Now, however, pressure is being generated from the Polish side via the German media. “That’s not really helpful, especially since behind the scenes, everyone is treated fairly.” The day before, Strack-Zimmermann admitted that you had to have the courage to admit that the ring exchange didn’t work the way you had imagined.
Strack-Zimmermann demanded direct arms deliveries to the Ukraine, including Marder armored personnel carriers, Fuchs transport vehicles and Leopard-2 tanks. “The Chancellor’s Office, which only wants to deliver main battle tanks in consultation with the USA and France, has met with little enthusiasm,” she said. “But Germany could set an example.” Ukraine cannot wait “until we have sorted ourselves out here”.
In the ring exchange procedure, eastern allies of Ukraine are to provide easy-to-operate Soviet-design tanks. In return, Germany promised its NATO partners modern equipment as a replacement. However, Poland had repeatedly accused the federal government of not keeping promises.
