On Friday, the Swiss government reported Germany had requested the sale of some of its mothballed Leopard 2 tanks, which might allow Germany and other nations to enhance military supplies to Ukraine.
Germany wants Switzerland to sell some tanks back to Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) to satisfy EU and NATO military shortages.
Germany, Poland, Portugal, Finland, and Sweden are deploying Leopard tanks to Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression, reducing their arsenals.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Economics Minister Robert Habeck briefed Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd about the idea in a February 23 letter, the defense ministry told Reuters on Friday.
Blick in Switzerland broke the story.
German officials begged their Swiss counterparts to approve the trade, promising not to send Swiss tanks to Ukraine.
“No combat tanks would be transferred to Ukraine,” a Swiss Defence Ministry (VBS) spokeswoman told Newspress.
Switzerland cannot transfer weapons to Ukraine because of its neutrality rules and arms embargo.
The VBS reported that Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd wrote on March 1 that the Swiss parliament would need to declare mothballed tanks out of service before selling them.
“Parliament is discussing this matter,” the VBS spokeswoman said.
Swiss forces use 134 Leopard 2 tanks and store 96. Germany has no official count.
They wanted to buy, but the VSB official claimed the army had stated it could do without some tanks.
The administration said it would reply on Monday, but no date was specified for the Swiss parliament to vote.
Berlin’s defense ministry official couldn’t respond immediately.
Bern has rejected proposals from Germany, Spain, and Denmark to re-export Swiss-made armaments to Ukraine.
But, a pro-Ukraine public and political attitude is pressuring the Swiss government to lift the restriction on arms transfers to war zones.
Switzerland’s European neighbors are increasingly calling for similar transfers to Kyiv, and parliament’s two security committees have advocated relaxing the regulations.
