Sánchez's 'operation Leopard': he put Díaz on notice and waited for Germany's "umbrella" to avoid criticism from his partners

• Defense Spain will send Leopard tanks to Ukraine

• Politics Belarra warns that sending Leopard tanks "will contribute to an escalation of the war and could lead to a very dangerous response from Russia"

The shipment of military material to Ukraine is an uncomfortable matter for the Government to manage.

Even more so that of tanks, which after a measured silence is already an option on the table since yesterday.

Spain maintains a commitment to

and the

which, in addition, acts as a cutoff for the Executive to defend its participation in armament operations in Ukraine.

An "umbrella" in the face of criticism from the vast majority of its partners, including Unidas Podemos, who reject the shipment of weapons, even more tanks.

Hence the prudence and discretion that is always kept in this matter.

The slogan is clear: always wait for others to move first to have the alibi.

Make a move when there is already a more or less consolidated Euro-Atlantic position, a current of established opinion.

"Let's go hand in hand with partners and allies", is the message that is always pursued and with which decisions are justified that are known to stress the government coalition and the relationship with ERC or EH Bildu.

This has happened with the decision to open up the shipment of Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine.

It gives the feeling of being something forced, forced, despite the fact that it has been known for a long time.

Looking for that scenario.

For weeks, silence.

There was movement in the back room.

European countries have known for a long time that

needed tanks to be able to contain the Russians and afford to launch an offensive starting in the spring.

For not mentioning Zelenski's express requests.

Spain was not publicly taken for granted, the focus was even diverted by saying that this matter was not on the table, when countries like

or

were already leading the debate.

Of course, in a premeditated way, rejecting the option was avoided.

The way out, the same as always: it must be a joint solution of the allies.

The umbrella".

This explains the words of the Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, to argue and defend the shipment of the

in the face of criticism from its partners: «Spain has international commitments and has to be where it has to be: with Germany, France, Portugal or USA.

It would not be understood that we were not there ».

A Leopard during some maneuvers in Germany.RONNY HARTMANNAFP

That is why Pedro Sánchez measures his steps.

Not one fake.

When Germany confirmed on Tuesday that it was not only lifting the veto on the shipment of Leopard main battle tanks, but that they themselves would provide units, the machinery was activated.

Defense Minister Margarita Robles spoke with the allies to find out how the matter was.

Yesterday it was already confirmed that Spain was joining the plan and will send battle tanks.

A decision of which, as this newspaper has verified, the vice presidency of Yolanda Díaz was warned from the Presidency.

Government sources state that they were told that the matter was on the table, without offering them more specificity or details about a decision that was consummated shortly after.

Yesterday morning there was an emergency meeting of the

space , which was attended by

, Ione Belarra, Alberto Garzón,

,

or

to address the matter and see how it was treated.

While Podemos and IU are belligerent criticizing the "armament escalation", Díaz opted yesterday for a more Solomonic position, without such harsh and open criticism.

The Government pact made it clear that decisions on matters as sensitive as

or

are made by the PSOE and, ultimately, by Pedro Sánchez.

The same thing happened with the turn of La Moncloa with

The decisions are made by the PSOE, but that does not prevent this from being one of the issues that most cracks the coalition and the relationship with the partners.

Even more so with the purpose that the sending of the battle tanks is not debated in Congress.

It should be remembered that the expansion from four to six destroyers in Rota, sealed in June 2021 between

and Joe Biden and which is currently being finalized -in fact the works in

will begin shortly-, will not be put to a vote either in

.

A German Leopard.CHRISTOF STACHEAFP

That it is an uncomfortable management is demonstrated by the fact that Sánchez, when addressing the invasion of Ukraine, intentionally focuses on humanitarian aid and the reception of refugees.

While military aid gives the impression of being hidden or in tow, in these matters it is conscientiously presumed: 164,000 Ukrainians have received temporary protection and reside in our country and 38 million have been allocated to humanitarian aid.

But Germany's decision forced them to come out from behind the scenes, remove their masks.

Minister

settled yesterday that Spain is willing to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine and train them in their use, adding the preventive tag line: always in coordination with the allies.

Robles, in statements to Efe -the channel he used to verify the announcement-, stressed that Spain is willing to coordinate with the allies in everything that is necessary and that it refers to the shipment of those tanks, so it is not It is now possible to determine the number of units that, if any, could be shipped.

This newspaper has already announced that 53 of the 108 Leopard cars that the Government of Spain acquired in 1998 from Germany and that rest in the

(Zaragoza) are viable.

Defense sources do emphasize that the tanks that are in good condition and operational but that cannot be sent are those destined for

and

, because those missions would be left unguarded.

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