Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne did not rule out sending its Leclerc tanks to Ukraine but did not make an official announcement to that effect in an address to Senators on Wednesday.
While Germany decided to greenlight sending heavy Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, whether from Germany or any other country, France continues to bide its time, indicating that “nothing is excluded”.
In an address to Senators on Wednesday, Borne “welcomed” the German decision and recalled the mobilisation of France to support Ukraine “in the long term” and “until victory”.
The French government claims to have created momentum, with the delivery of the German Leopard tanks “complementing and amplifying the support in [light] AMX10-RC tanks”, said the Elysée.
In her address, Borne also recalled the principles on delivering arms to Ukraine that were already laid out by President Emmanuel Macron, according to which aid must be useful, quickly effective and not provoke escalation. France’s defensive capability should not be “significantly” weakened as a result either.
Providing sufficiently quick training for Ukrainian forces to man Leclerc tanks may prove difficult as they are believed to be more difficult to handle than their Leopard counterparts due to the technology on board. With production having been halted in the past fifteen years, it is also questionable whether compatible shells and spare parts can still be found in sufficient numbers.
The Leopard tanks are much more numerous – “more than 3,000 on European territory ” – compared to just over 200 Leclerc tanks that are actually in service – Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu told France 5 Wednesday evening.
Ukraine expressed “more expectations […] on solar defence or artillery than on Leclerc tanks”, said Lecornu, suggesting that a decision could be taken to deliver other equipment.
“The decision will be taken in the coming days,” he added.
Of France’s €200 million-heavy support fund for Ukraine, around €100 million are still available, which would allow the Ukrainian authorities to buy the equipment they need directly from French manufacturers, he added.
On the side of the far-right, Marine Le Pen categorically opposed sending heavy weapons to Ukraine as she believes this would escalate the conflict.
According to the radical left party La France Insoumise, “France does not have the means to send enough tanks to make a difference”, MP Bastien Lachaud told France Inter.
(Davide Basso | EURACTIV.fr)
Source: euractiv.com
