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| Germany freezes tank upgrade for Turkey amid Afrin op, Ankara says it expects ‘solidarity’ from ally | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Germany is freezing the modernization of Turkey’s Leopard tanks, a government spokesperson has confirmed, amid Ankara’s operation against the Kurds in Afrin, Syria. Turkey hit back by saying it expects solidarity from its ally. | |
| Berlin will not be making any decision on “critical arms transfers” to its NATO ally Turkey, including the much-awaited upgrade of German-manufactured Leopard tanks, because of the military operation against the Syrian Kurds, Spiegel magazine earlier reported. | |
| Instead, this matter will be passed on to the next government, which Berlin is currently struggling to form following the September 24 elections. | Instead, this matter will be passed on to the next government, which Berlin is currently struggling to form following the September 24 elections. |
| “The [interim] federal government is very concerned about the armed conflict [going on] in northern Syria,” Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Spiegel. | “The [interim] federal government is very concerned about the armed conflict [going on] in northern Syria,” Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Spiegel. |
| “As far as the current discussions on weapons exports are concerned, it is clear to the government that we are not allowed to, and will not deliver [armaments] to crisis regions.” | “As far as the current discussions on weapons exports are concerned, it is clear to the government that we are not allowed to, and will not deliver [armaments] to crisis regions.” |
| The report said the Germans had initially agreed to modernize the Turkish Army’s ageing Leopards, an upgrade Ankara had been requesting from Rheinmetall – Germany’s leading heavy weapons manufacturer – since spring 2017. | The report said the Germans had initially agreed to modernize the Turkish Army’s ageing Leopards, an upgrade Ankara had been requesting from Rheinmetall – Germany’s leading heavy weapons manufacturer – since spring 2017. |
| However, as Turkish troops began their ground offensive against Syrian Kurds as part of ‘Operation Olive Branch’, the German government faced criticism within its own ranks that such a move would send the wrong signal, according to the magazin. | However, as Turkish troops began their ground offensive against Syrian Kurds as part of ‘Operation Olive Branch’, the German government faced criticism within its own ranks that such a move would send the wrong signal, according to the magazin. |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |