ZURICH (Reuters) - Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine.
Germany had asked Switzerland in February to sell back some of the 96 Leopard II tanks it has in storage to manufacturer Rheinmetall AG.
"We are very happy and grateful for this decision," Michel Fluegger, Germany's ambassador to Switzerland told Swiss TV.
He was speaking after the Swiss parliament on Tuesday approved the decommissioning of 25 Leopard II tanks, paving the way for them to be resold to Germany.
Buying Swiss weapons could become difficult unless Bern adjusts its law on war materials, German ambassador Fluegger said.
Persons:
Michel Fluegger, Fluegger, Viola Amherd, John Revill, Philippa Fletcher
Organizations:
Leopard, Rheinmetall AG, NATO, Swiss, Leopard IIs, SRF
Locations:
ZURICH, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Berlin, Bern, Kyiv, Swiss, Denmark, Spain, Europe