A much better idea would be for Canada to commit to supply Ukraine from its inventory of Leopard tanks, except most are unfit for service.
The contribution fits criteria agreed upon by NATO’s defence ministers — that each country should identify where they have production capacity that can be delivered quickly, the officials said.
Germany has been reluctant to grant authority for other countries to re-export Leopards to Ukraine but defence ministers are gathering in Berlin this Friday, including U.S. defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and the expectation is that permission will be forthcoming. Germany’s vice chancellor, Robert Habeck has dismissed concerns that Germany might not waive export controls, saying his country would not stand in the way if other countries decide to support Ukraine.
Justin Trudeau said this week that Ottawa would consider such a request, but added “we’re not there yet.” The Canadian Forces have 42 Leopard 2A4 tanks that have not been modified or upgraded since they were originally manufactured in the mid-1980s, according to sources. They use old analogue technology and, while useful for training purposes in Canada, would be unsuitable for overseas service, in the opinion of one person with knowledge of the fleet.Article content
But a handful of useful tanks from a fleet of more than 80 is testimony to the years of under-investment that the war in Ukraine has exposed — a list that also includes an absence of modern anti-tank weapons, a complete lack of air defence systems and a shortage of artillery.Article content
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John Ivison: Anand's Kyiv pledge more about political optics than what Ukraine needs to fightA much better idea would be for Canada to commit to supply Ukraine from its inventory of Leopard tanks, except most are unfit for service.
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John Ivison: Anand's Kyiv pledge more about political optics than what Ukraine needs to fightA much better idea would be for Canada to commit to supply Ukraine from its inventory of Leopard tanks, except most are unfit for service.
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