Russia's invasion of Ukraine - and mounting pressure both at home and abroad - has pushed the German government to majorly shift the country's defense policy.
Critics say his center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are too reluctant to stray from their historic policy of detente toward Moscow. In recent weeks, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has come under increasing pressure for refusing to ship heavy weapons directly to Ukraine. "We are working together with our American friends in training Ukrainian troops on artillery systems on German soil," the minister said. Lambrecht also said that Berlin was working to train Ukrainian soldiers on German soil.
"The German army has taken them out of use almost a decade ago, not because they were obsolete, but because at that time the Bundeswehr was scaling down and they had no use for it anymore," defense journalist Thomas Wiegold told DW. The "Gepard" anti-aircraft system was developed in the 1960-1970s, but has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics. The confirmation came after German media reported on the move. "Yesterday we decided that Germany will make the delivery of 'Gepard' anti-aircraft tanks possible to Ukraine," Lambrecht said in a transcript of her speech seen by DW. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced the move during opening remarks at the Ramstein air base in Germany, coming at the start of a US-hosted defense conference on Ukraine. The German government on Tuesday confirmed reports that it will approve a delivery of "Gepard" anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine.
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