![]() ![]() Last week, Minister Wopke Hoekstra (Foreign Affairs) told parliament that there are “no taboos” for the Cabinet regarding supplying Ukraine with regular military equipment. “I have a lot of understanding for the Ukrainian request,” Rutte said, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The Cabinet is prepared to consider it, according to the Dutch Prime Minister. It would make sense to do this together with other countries. Earlier on Tuesday, Rutte told international media in Brussels that the Netherlands can buy those tanks and give them away if necessary. ![]() The Netherlands doesn’t own any tanks but leases 18 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany. “The decision has not yet been made, but we certainly do not rule it out,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rutte told ANP. By the end of 2026, all 18 Leopard 2 A8 tanks will be available to the German Army, providing them with enhanced capabilities and bolstering their armored forces.The Dutch Cabinet is prepared to consider supplying modern Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. The first tanks are scheduled to be delivered as early as 2025. The contract also includes a package for logistical support and an option for the delivery of up to 104 additional main battle tanks, including spare parts and maintenance, for a period of five years. ![]() The army will receive a highly modern and capable system that combines excellent protection, effectiveness, and mobility. The responsible project manager at BAAINBw emphasized, “Not only will the material previously transferred to Ukraine be replaced in the shortest possible time, but the tanks will also be of the latest version, the 2A8 – the newest variant of the proven main battle tank.” This version represents a further development based on the Leopard 2A7, incorporating advanced features such as the active protection system TROPHY. The project, with a total value of approximately 525 million euros, was approved by the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag on May 24, 2023, in record time, less than three months after the start of the procurement process. The contract for the acquisition was signed today at the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). ![]()
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