The Czech Army will receive the first battle tank donated by Germany in return for previous Czech assistance to Ukraine.
In total, the Czech Republic will receive 14 tanks that were previously used by the Swiss and German armies but once decommissioned were bought by the German company Rheinmetall.
The Czech Army is set to receive the tank on Wednesday, along with spare parts, ammunition, and three years of service support, including soldier training.
The donation is part of a swap deal Czechia and Germany agreed to earlier this year.
According to the agreement, Germany compensates Czechia for the Soviet-made tanks it sends to Ukraine. As part of the swap deal, more weapons and equipment will be sent to Czechia, with all German tanks expected to arrive by the end of next year.
German assistance in replacing the equipment donated to Ukraine was agreed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in May 2022.
The two countries are also negotiating the purchase of up to 50 more modern Leopard 2A7+ tanks of various modifications, which Czechia will acquire in the coming years.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
