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Swiss government rejects re-sale of old tanks to Ukraine

A german buy-back tank request rejected by switzerland
The Swiss War Material Act prohibits the delivery of war material to countries involved in armed conflicts. Keystone / Friedemann Vogel

The Federal Council has rejected an export request from Ruag AG, which sought to export 96 Leopard 1 A5 tanks to Ukraine.

Citing the Swiss neutrality policy and the War Materiel Act, the Federal Council has determined that the sale of the 96 tanks cannot be permitted under the existing legal framework. Swiss law  prohibits the delivery of war materiel to countries involved in armed conflicts.

++ Swiss arms group wants to sell 96 unused tanks to Germany

The government’s stance remains the same regardless of whether a country has been attacked and seeks to defend itself. Consequently, Switzerland also declines to authorise the transfer of Swiss tank ammunition to Ukraine.

In April, Ruag AG submitted an export request to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) for the resale of 96 used and non-operational Leopard 1 A5 tanks. Currently stored in Italy, the tanks would require refurbishment in Germany before being exported to Ukraine.

Germany’s interest in tank buy-back

Switzerland has yet to make a final decision on different tank request from Germany concerning 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks currently in Switzerland. Germany wants to buy these tanks, not to be delivered to Ukraine, but to replenish NATO supplies that have been thinned out by deliveries to Ukraine.

++Swiss government supports selling tanks back to Germany

In this case, the Swiss government has signalled its agreement. However, administrative hurdles still have to be cleared in parliament.

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