Norway to Supply Eight Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine

Tue Feb 14 2023
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Rao Zeeshan
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Monitoring Desk

OSLO: While fulfilling a previous commitment and joining a slew of Western nations to pledge heavier weapons to Ukraine, Norway’s government said Tuesday it would supply eight of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The Norwegian military currently has 36 Leopard 2 tanks in service.

“Norway will supply eight tanks and up to four support vehicles to Ukraine. Furthermore, we are earmarking funds for spare parts and ammunition,” Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said. He said it would happen soon.

The defence minister said 250 million Norwegian kroner ($24.8 million) would be allocated towards spare parts and ammunition for Leopard 2 tanks through the European Union (EU’s) Ukraine fund, the European Peace Facility.

“The situation in Ukraine is approaching a crucial phase, and they need comprehensive and swift Western support,” the defence minister said.

lepord tank01

Norway to train Ukrainian tank crews

The defence minister said Norway would “also contribute to the training and education of Ukrainian tank crews in Poland, together with other allied countries.”

Germany recently approved the modern German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine after a tireless campaign by Kyiv and other countries.

It agreed to send 14 Leopard 2 units from its own military stocks and approved the re-export of the battle tanks to Ukraine by allies.

Poland has also pledged 14 tanks, and Canada will send four, with Finland, Spain, and Portugal indicating they will take part but with no specific numbers.

Last Wednesday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin and its allies aim to deliver a first battalion of tanks by April, and others would follow later this year and next.

Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have also promised that Ukraine would get at least 100 older Leopard 1 tanks in the “coming months”.

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Afghanistan continues to pose multiple security threats to neighborly countries. Afghan interim government commonly known as the Taliban regime recently celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover of Kabul. Taliban’s speedy takeover and the quick meltdown of the Ashraf Ghani regime both are remembered as meaningful surprising events in the checkered history of Afghanistan. The subsequent withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan triggered numerous intriguing questions. The apparent hasty withdrawal of American forces though celebrated as a victory by the Taliban however it could not bring any stability to Afghanistan. Though withdrawal took place under Joe Biden’s watch, however, the grounds were prepared by the Trump administration prior to leaving the white house consequent to election defeat. The arrival of the Taliban in Kabul as an uncontested force on 15th Aug 2021 made the whole American campaign a shadowy affair stretched over almost two decades. Critiques are justified in questioning the outcome of such a lengthy military and political campaign orchestrated by the USA in Afghanistan. No satisfactory response has ever surfaced from the State Department and Pentagon sides about the quick meltdown of the Afghan National Army. It is obvious that the surprisingly expeditious winding up of the Ashraf Ghani regime further exposed the weaknesses of the whole American prescription applied to heal Afghanistan. The multiple damaging effects of the ill-conceived strategy on the war-torn society of Afghanistan are not too difficult to understand. Present-day Afghanistan is more polarized and unsettled under the Taliban’s unelected regime. The demolition of the political façade in August 2021 was not a sudden development but rather a much-expected outcome of the dubious Doha agreement. Analysts having fair insight into the Afghan dynamics were apprehensive about the American deal with the Taliban while Ashraf Ghani was very much present in the office of President. Simply put, the American direct agreement with the Taliban in Doha was actually the beginning of the end of Ashraf Ghani's regime. Bitterness in bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been constantly growing over the issue of cross-border terrorism. Against all the positive expectations of Islamabad, the interim Afghan government has not responded against the Khawarij which comprises the banned TTP and its numerous splinter groups. Ironically, the Taliban regime is providing all sorts of support to those Khawarij terrorists who are involved in attacks on Pakistani security forces, unarmed civilians and military installations. Facts and figures clearly reflect the alarming rise in cross-border terrorist attacks inside Pakistan after the arrival of the Taliban on Kabul’s throne. 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