Trouble over ring exchange
Lambrecht sends a letter to Warsaw
The angry reproach from Poland was that Germany was not fulfilling its promises regarding the arms swap. Now the Defence Minister is trying to smooth the waters – and sends a letter.
For days, the German government had to endure angry reactions from Poland because, in the view of the neighbouring country, Germany was not fulfilling its commitments on the arms exchange. Now Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is trying to smooth the waters. In a letter to her counterpart Mariusz Błaszczak in Warsaw, which is available to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, she again promotes the offer from Germany and emphasises that state-of-the-art Leopard 2 battle tanks could also be part of the deal, just not immediately.
“As already discussed at working level in Berlin on 14 July,” Lambrecht writes, “a joint procurement of state-of-the-art Leopard-2 battle tanks from German industry would also be possible.” And it goes on to say: “In the production and delivery of these new tanks, we would make every effort to ensure that Poland is given priority.”
The ring swap concept provides for Eastern European partners in particular to quickly hand over their old battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from Soviet production to Ukraine so that the country can defend itself against Russian military superiority. In return, Western partners promise to quickly replenish the stockpiles of military equipment.
So far, Warsaw feels that the offer from Germany is insufficient. Poland has already supported Ukraine by supplying far more than 200 Soviet-made tanks. Berlin has only offered 20 of the more modern Leopard 2 tanks as replacements, and that does not include the latest variant. According to Polish Defence Minister Błaszczak, they would not be operational for another twelve months. “Certainly there are gifts that should only be accepted with great caution,” he said recently. Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk had even spoken of a “deceptive manoeuvre” by Germany in Der Spiegel.
“Every possibility examined with vigour to support Poland”.
Lambrecht stated in the letter that Berlin had also offered 100 Leopard-1 A5 main battle tanks as replacements and Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Both are older tanks. She appeals for understanding, because the Bundeswehr also lacks modern equipment: “As you know, compensation from Bundeswehr stocks is not possible in view of our own understocking and compliance with our alliance obligations.”
However, Berlin had “vigorously examined every possibility to support Poland”. She had read statements about Polish disappointment in the press with concern. She expressed her gratitude for the transfer of tanks from Polish stocks to Ukraine. “With the generous and, above all, very quick transfer of tanks, your country has effectively supported Ukraine. For this, you have my greatest personal respect and heartfelt thanks.” She also let her counterpart know that she considers “close and tireless cohesion” among allies and friends to be essential. Now it is the Polish side’s turn again. Lambrecht asks for feedback.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I never really know what to think of the ring exchange.
Did they agree to a specific amount of tanks and models. Like for every X amount of T72 sent to Ukraine we will provide Y amount of Leopard 2A7 ?
Or was it more send tanks to Ukraine, we will send you some ?
And was there ever a timeframe specified ?
I think this issue will be resolved in coming years.
That’s how you treat an allied country. Not by trashtalking in the press.
I want to note that the equipment that the Czech Republic and Poland and other countries transferred, although they were from warehouses, turned out to be in excellent condition, some samples were even better than what the Russians rode to take Kyiv, respect for the fact that they followed the equipment correctly, but everything could end up like She is now trying to get her equipment from warehouses to Russia and as a result everything breaks down, as a result, these same countries sent materials to create dynamic protection for tanks. I hope we manage to fight off Russia to pay for it all in the future.
The German explanation about the tanks came the day after Poland signed the contract for the purchase of the K2. I guess they realised that they had lost their chance for a gigantic contract and are still hoping that they will somehow screw it up. They screwed up negotiations with a neighbouring country that belongs to NATO, is a member of the EU and is currently using the model that these negotiations were about.
Poland was looking for tanks to quickly replace the T-72. When we asked Germany for compensation they had all the cards in their hands: they could have stood on their heads to scrape up at least 100 Leopards and offered to modernise at cost, they could have offered licence production of the Leo 2A7 with a large share of Polish industry. But no, they preferred to remain passive and spread fake news about Poles demanding Leo 2A7s in exchange for old T-72s. So Poland went to the USA and Korea.
There was already a similar story with the European main battle tank (MGCS). Germany and France excluded Poland from arms projects, the German daily Die Welt wrote. “In discussions with German arms companies, which also concern political decisions, the needs of the Poles rarely play any role. Poland wants to be treated not just as a customer of armament companies, but as a partner.”
The text is from 2020. Already then we had plans to purchase around 800 tanks. This is more than France and Germany combined, it was obvious that we wanted to participate in the project as a partner and have an influence on the shape of the new tank so that it was tailored to our needs. However, we were excluded. The Koreans approached us as partners and offered much more than France and Germany.
6 comments
Trouble over ring exchange
Lambrecht sends a letter to Warsaw
The angry reproach from Poland was that Germany was not fulfilling its promises regarding the arms swap. Now the Defence Minister is trying to smooth the waters – and sends a letter.
For days, the German government had to endure angry reactions from Poland because, in the view of the neighbouring country, Germany was not fulfilling its commitments on the arms exchange. Now Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is trying to smooth the waters. In a letter to her counterpart Mariusz Błaszczak in Warsaw, which is available to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, she again promotes the offer from Germany and emphasises that state-of-the-art Leopard 2 battle tanks could also be part of the deal, just not immediately.
“As already discussed at working level in Berlin on 14 July,” Lambrecht writes, “a joint procurement of state-of-the-art Leopard-2 battle tanks from German industry would also be possible.” And it goes on to say: “In the production and delivery of these new tanks, we would make every effort to ensure that Poland is given priority.”
The ring swap concept provides for Eastern European partners in particular to quickly hand over their old battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from Soviet production to Ukraine so that the country can defend itself against Russian military superiority. In return, Western partners promise to quickly replenish the stockpiles of military equipment.
So far, Warsaw feels that the offer from Germany is insufficient. Poland has already supported Ukraine by supplying far more than 200 Soviet-made tanks. Berlin has only offered 20 of the more modern Leopard 2 tanks as replacements, and that does not include the latest variant. According to Polish Defence Minister Błaszczak, they would not be operational for another twelve months. “Certainly there are gifts that should only be accepted with great caution,” he said recently. Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk had even spoken of a “deceptive manoeuvre” by Germany in Der Spiegel.
“Every possibility examined with vigour to support Poland”.
Lambrecht stated in the letter that Berlin had also offered 100 Leopard-1 A5 main battle tanks as replacements and Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Both are older tanks. She appeals for understanding, because the Bundeswehr also lacks modern equipment: “As you know, compensation from Bundeswehr stocks is not possible in view of our own understocking and compliance with our alliance obligations.”
However, Berlin had “vigorously examined every possibility to support Poland”. She had read statements about Polish disappointment in the press with concern. She expressed her gratitude for the transfer of tanks from Polish stocks to Ukraine. “With the generous and, above all, very quick transfer of tanks, your country has effectively supported Ukraine. For this, you have my greatest personal respect and heartfelt thanks.” She also let her counterpart know that she considers “close and tireless cohesion” among allies and friends to be essential. Now it is the Polish side’s turn again. Lambrecht asks for feedback.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
I never really know what to think of the ring exchange.
Did they agree to a specific amount of tanks and models. Like for every X amount of T72 sent to Ukraine we will provide Y amount of Leopard 2A7 ?
Or was it more send tanks to Ukraine, we will send you some ?
And was there ever a timeframe specified ?
I think this issue will be resolved in coming years.
That’s how you treat an allied country. Not by trashtalking in the press.
I want to note that the equipment that the Czech Republic and Poland and other countries transferred, although they were from warehouses, turned out to be in excellent condition, some samples were even better than what the Russians rode to take Kyiv, respect for the fact that they followed the equipment correctly, but everything could end up like She is now trying to get her equipment from warehouses to Russia and as a result everything breaks down, as a result, these same countries sent materials to create dynamic protection for tanks. I hope we manage to fight off Russia to pay for it all in the future.
The German explanation about the tanks came the day after Poland signed the contract for the purchase of the K2. I guess they realised that they had lost their chance for a gigantic contract and are still hoping that they will somehow screw it up. They screwed up negotiations with a neighbouring country that belongs to NATO, is a member of the EU and is currently using the model that these negotiations were about.
Poland was looking for tanks to quickly replace the T-72. When we asked Germany for compensation they had all the cards in their hands: they could have stood on their heads to scrape up at least 100 Leopards and offered to modernise at cost, they could have offered licence production of the Leo 2A7 with a large share of Polish industry. But no, they preferred to remain passive and spread fake news about Poles demanding Leo 2A7s in exchange for old T-72s. So Poland went to the USA and Korea.
There was already a similar story with the European main battle tank (MGCS). Germany and France excluded Poland from arms projects, the German daily Die Welt wrote. “In discussions with German arms companies, which also concern political decisions, the needs of the Poles rarely play any role. Poland wants to be treated not just as a customer of armament companies, but as a partner.”
The text is from 2020. Already then we had plans to purchase around 800 tanks. This is more than France and Germany combined, it was obvious that we wanted to participate in the project as a partner and have an influence on the shape of the new tank so that it was tailored to our needs. However, we were excluded. The Koreans approached us as partners and offered much more than France and Germany.