Will Portugal send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine? “There is no decision” | war in ukraine
After having left an idea that the sending of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was a certainty, the Minister of Foreign Affairs decided this Wednesday that there is still no decision on this subject. João Gomes Cravinho added, however, that it is a hypothesis under discussion, recalling that the country has 37 tanks of this type and is available to help train Ukrainian soldiers.
The Minister of Defence, Helena Carreirassaid he expected a decision on sending the Leopard 2 “in the next few days”, and also assured that Portugal Kiev would help develop its capacity in the field of tanks, in statements to the agency Portuguese, during a visit to the Association for the Disabled of the Armed Forces of Castelo Branco.
“With regard to Portugal, we have already expressed our willingness to participate in this process [de capacitação da Ucrânia] through training. As is known, Portugal also has Leopard tanks. Training is fundamental and Portugal will participate in this effort with the capacity of the Ukrainians. There is no decision on sending Portuguese tanks to Ukraine”, explained João Gomes Cravinho.
The minister saw the need to clarify that a decision had not yet been taken on the Leopard 2 tanks of the Portuguese Army, after statements to SIC Notícias, made this Wednesday, which were interpreted as a confirmation of the sending of these tanks . In words addressed to the television station, João Gomes Cravinho even discussed the logistical details of transporting Portuguese tanks to Ukraine.
“In the past, there was transport by train to Spain for training with Spain. I don’t know exactly how it will be done [o transporte], but I imagine it is partly by train to Spain and then eventually by ship and then again by train. It’s a challenge that’s going to be worked on with all the allies they’ve created for this capability.”
Contacted by PÚBLICO, the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) reiterated that no decision had been taken about sending Leopard 2 to Ukraine. Sent to friday announcement in which he informed that Portugal is available to support Ukraine with military capacity around the Leopard 2 tanks (as a training offer for this one), without committing to send the tanks themselves.
Portugal does not want to “lose capabilities”
The holder of the Defense mass said that Portugal is still evaluating the availability and the effects that the transfer of the Leopard 2 would have on the capabilities of the Portuguese Army.
“I reaffirm that we are evaluating both our availability and the impacts they would also have on our capacities, but with great care and with the necessary prudence”, he declared. “We shouldn’t lose resources in this movement”, she stressed.
The objective is to simultaneously help Ukraine in articulating with Western partners, but to prevent Portugal from losing its capacity in terms of its defence, he added. “We are doing that work and we hope that we can have a decision in the coming days”, she explained.
Helena Carreiras said that Portugal received “a few days ago” a “formal request from Ukraine” for training in terms of tanks, and is currently also assessing the modalities in which this will take place.
Portugal has 37 Leopard 2
After months of travel, Germany finally gave the “green light” to transfer these German-made tanks to Ukraine, sending 14 Leopard 2A6 cars to Kiev, the penultimate model of this vehicle.
Portugal has, since 2016, 37 Leopard 2s. Acquired second-hand from the Netherlands, they are operated by the Army Mechanized Brigade Combat Vehicle Group. There are, in total, more than 2500 of these tanks in NATO territory. Germany (521), Greece (353), Spain (327), Turkey (316) and Poland (247) are the five countries with the most tanks of this type, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
From a German manufacturer, the Leopard 2 is not a tank fairly recent – it debuted in service in 1979 – but offers good protection and long-range firepower, it managed to reach speeds close to 70 kilometers per hour. Over the years, it has received a warm welcome, remaining equipped for day and night combat. It is currently one of the most advanced tanks available to Western powers.
News updated at 19:00. Included statements by the Minister of Defense