The Swiss Ministry of Economics has sanctioned the sale of 71 Leopard 1 A5 tanks to Germany, provided that their re-export to Ukraine is prohibited, a statement on the website of the Federal Council (government) of the confederation said.
„Based on the parties' contractual guarantees that neither the tanks nor their components or parts can be transferred to Ukraine, the planned sale also does not contradict the embargo on arms supplies in connection with the situation in Ukraine.
The government recalled that in June 2023 it had rejected a request to sell main battle tanks to Germany for their subsequent transfer to Ukraine. The 96 Leopard 1A5 tanks and their components were purchased by RUAG MRO from the Italian Ministry of Defense in 2016. The company has now submitted an application to the country's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for the sale of 71 of these tanks to a German-based company, with a contract prohibiting their transfer to Ukraine. According to a statement on the Federal Council's website, SECO representatives have asked the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs for clarification on this issue, which has already been received and submitted to the government.
Current Swiss legislation prohibits the re-export of weapons from countries that have acquired them to conflict zones, due to the neutral status of the confederation. For this reason, Swiss weapons and ammunition have not yet been sent to Ukraine, despite requests to this effect made to Bern by, among others, Germany, Denmark and Spain.