Why does Germany want to get old Leopard tanks from Switzerland?

The Swiss Ministry of Defense said that it had received a request from Germany to deliver old Leopard 2 tanks, with guarantees that they would not be transferred to Ukraine.

In response to questions from reporters, a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry said, "We would be glad if Switzerland would consider handing over" the out-of-service tanks.

He did not specify the number of tanks that the German Rheinmetall Group wants to acquire.

In a letter dated February 23, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Economy Robert Habeck asked Swiss Defense Minister Viola Amherd to agree to hand over discontinued Leopard 2 combat tanks to the German arms group, Rheinmetall.

What's the reason?

And since Switzerland prohibits, in the name of neutrality, the transfer of military equipment to a country at war, Berlin confirmed that the tanks will not be re-exported to Ukraine, according to the Swiss Ministry of Defense.

She explained that the survival of these tanks "in Germany or with partners in NATO and the European Union will be guaranteed," to fill the gaps resulting from the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks that these countries ceded to Ukraine, and to improve the supply of spare parts.

For years, the Swiss Army has stored 96 Leopard 2 tanks, which are regularly tested but not upgraded.

The Swiss Army has 134 Leopard 2 tanks in service.