Decryption

Delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine: a historic turning point for Germany?

Audio 7:30 p.m.

“We have decided that Germany will deliver Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht confirmed press reports.

REUTERS - BRENDAN MCDERMID

By: Clementine Pawlotsky

1 min

This is a major turning point in its foreign policy.

After weeks of hesitation, Germany finally authorizes its industry to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine: armored vehicles of the "Guepard" type, specialized in anti-aircraft defense.

The announcement was made official yesterday (Tuesday, April 26, 2022) by the Minister of Defense, Christine Lambrecht, as the United States brought together some 40 countries at the American military base in Ramstein, in the west of the Germany.

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A meeting devoted to the coordination of military aid to kyiv.

Until now, the German authorities had been rather cautious on this point.

So, how to explain this historical reversal?

Why was the decision to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine so difficult for Germany?

And what can be the consequences?

Decryption with: 

- Paul Maurice

, researcher at

the Study Committee for Franco-German Relations

at

Ifri (French Institute for International Relations)

- Hans Stark

, Professor of German Civilization at 

Sorbonne University

and Advisor for Franco-German Relations at Ifri, co-author of the book 

Germany on the International Stage.

In search of stability in a changing world

 (Presses Universitaires du Septentrion)

.

A program prepared by Clémentine Pawlotsky and Sigrid Azeroual, produced by Claude Battista. 

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  • Germany

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