The prime minister assured on Friday that Portugal will deliver Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that a logistical operation is currently underway with Germany to recover some tanks.
This decision of the Portuguese Government was transmitted by António Costa to the Lusa news agency at the end of a visit he made to the Portuguese military mission in the Central African Republic, in which he also wanted to underline that the shipment of tanks to Ukraine will not endanger the capacity national military in terms of equipment.
“We are currently working to be able to do without some of our tanks. I know how many tanks it will be [enviados para a Ucrânia]but this will be announced in due course”, said the leader of the executive.
According to the prime minister, Portugal is currently working with Germany to “allow a logistics operation to supply parts, with a view to completing the recovery of some of the cars.” [de combate] that they were not operational.
“An operation that aims to provide Ukraine with some tanks, without, naturally, Portugal losing its military capacity intact. Obviously, Portugal also has obligations within the NATO framework, which we cannot fail to fulfill in terms of the availability of equipment for interventions in case of need,” he warned.
Asked about the most probable moment in which these Leopard 2 tanks could be sent to Ukrainian territory, António Costa pointed out that “the movement that is underway in Europe is to be able to have all these means available at the end of March.”
Regarding the controversy related to the fact that several of these Leopard 2 tanks, acquired by the national Armed Forces in 2007, have not been maintained for many years, the Prime Minister responded that the expression “many years is an exaggeration”.
“Some are not operational and, for this very reason, we have to work simultaneously with those who produce to ensure the necessary supply chain, in order to recover the tanks that we currently have inoperable and to be able to do without operational tanks, leaving us with our own properly protected capacity. . It is this logistical operation that is underway, ”he justified.
Still on the issue of the inoperability of some of the Leopard 2 tanks, António Costa made the following observation: “It is not only in car parts where components are missing.”
“There has also been a lack of components for military equipment. This logistical operation is ongoing and we have been working very closely with Germany for their defense,” he added.
Regarding bilateral cooperation with Ukraine, the Prime Minister highlighted the shipment of war material by Portugal, but also the shipment of humanitarian material and humanitarian aid, specifically in terms of hosting refugees.
“We have also given emergency support to the Budget of Ukraine and programs are running with the Government of Ukraine for the reconstruction of schools in one province. We also have the effort that resulted from the repositioning of the military forces within the NATO framework and that resulted in the reinforcement of the eastern flank where Portugal is now reinforced in Romania”, he pointed out.
António Costa also added that in the coming months a mission of the Air Police will travel to Lithuania.
“This situation is allowing greater involvement. For example, Romania is going to send forces to participate in the Minusca operation in the Central African Republic. It is not exactly a counterpart, but it is also within the framework of the cooperation that we have. developed with Romania”, he completed.
Source: TSF
