Netherlands prepared to deliver more tanks and F-16s to Ukraine

Netherlands prepared to deliver more tanks and F-16s to Ukraine
Netherlands prepared to deliver more tanks and F-16s to Ukraine
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Minister Wopke Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs also announced in a debate yesterday that the cabinet will look into supplying F-16 fighter jets if the government in Kiev requests it. Hoekstra said that he would look at such a request with an ‘open mind’.

No taboos

The Netherlands has previously contributed to dozens of old Soviet tanks that the Czech Republic has supplied to Ukraine. “That is certainly something we are willing to do,” defense minister Kajsa Ollongren told Bloomberg news agency in Davos, Switzerland.

In addition, Hoekstra said that there are ‘no taboos’ for supplying regular equipment. Russia is feared to launch another major offensive in the coming months.

Leopard 2 tanks

According to Ollongren, the supply of tanks must take place within a coalition within Europe or NATO. The Netherlands itself does not have Leopard 2 tanks, but ‘rents’ eighteen from Germany.

However, the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks is still a sensitive issue, because Germany must give the decisive agreement in this regard. Germany made the tanks, and must give permission to other countries (such as Poland and Finland) to supply the vehicles to Ukraine.

Top meeting Ramstein

“We are waiting for Germany’s position on this, but I am in favor of trying to find a solution and sending tanks to Ukraine,” Ollongren told Bloomberg.

Germany is expected to make a decision today during the summit meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany about sending the Leopard 2 tanks. Defense leaders from about fifty countries are meeting here today to discuss military support to Kiev. They will consider the request from Kiev to supply tanks and heavier weapons.

The article is in Dutch

Netherlands

Tags: Netherlands prepared deliver tanks F16s Ukraine

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