German journalists write that it is not yet known whether Germany will be able to deliver infantry fighting vehicles to two countries at once. At the same time, the army in Athens believes that the country’s defenses will not suffer if Greece receives the equipment later.
Greece is ready to wait to receive German Marder infantry fighting vehicles if Berlin wants to send them to Ukraine first. This was written in the German edition of Bild with reference to a senior Greek soldier.
“Greece’s defense capacity will not be affected if Marder’s delivery is delayed,” a source told reporters.
In June last year, the media wrote that Athens and Berlin had agreed on a “cyclical swap” plan. Germany promised to supply Greece with 40 modern infantry fighting vehicles. In response, Athens undertook to transport obsolete infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine and even managed to deliver Soviet BMP-1s to Kiev in October.
Instead of the old models, Greece has already bought 13 Marder machines.
According to journalists, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that Germany is ready to supply Ukraine 40 Marder from both industrial stocks and Bundeswehr stocks. Although until recently the official categorically excluded the supply of infantry fighting vehicles from the stocks of the German armed forces, according to him, they are needed for the country’s defense capability.
According to the press secretary of the German Ministry of Defense, about 370 Marders are currently in service in the Bundeswehr. However, it is unknown how many of them are currently on the move.
At the same time, according to the contract, the Rheinmetall arms concern must deliver the equipment not to Ukraine, but to Greece.
Therefore, Bild reporters wonder whether Berlin can simultaneously organize the supply of cars to the two countries.
Recall, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestrait said on January 6 that in addition to 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, which the German Ministry of Defense has committed to deliver to Ukraine in the first months of 2023, Patriot systems are also expected to be delivered.
Earlier the same day, Spiegel said, citing his own sources, that the German Ministry of Defense is preparing to transport up to 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian side.
Source: Focus
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