Germany's military unit lacks battle-ready tanks for NATO emergency response force

(MENAFN) According to a recent report from state broadcaster ZDF, Germany may not be able to fulfill its commitments to NATO in the event of an emergency requiring an immediate military response. This is because the military unit responsible for the country's participation in the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) lacks battle-ready tanks for the mission. Berlin was set to form the core of the VJTF, which is expected to be the first to meet an adversary if NATO is attacked. The 8,000-strong force must be ready to deploy its troops within two to seven days, but the Bundeswehr Tank Battalion 393 does not have enough combat-ready Leopard 2A7V main battle tanks.

Based in the central state of Thuringia, the unit is the only one in the German army equipped with state-of-the-art tanks, but not enough of them are combat-ready. At least 30 of the unit's 44 heavy equipment tanks must be battle-ready at any time through the year to meet the VJTF requirements. However, internal documents seen by ZDF showed that in January, the unit had only 17 tanks ready for action. In February, this number increased to 20, still falling short of the VJTF standards.

This revelation is a cause for concern for Germany's NATO allies, especially given the increasing tensions in the region. It could also have serious implications for Germany's defense policy, as it raises questions about the effectiveness of its military capabilities and its ability to meet its NATO obligations. However, the German Defense Ministry has assured that it is working to ensure that the Bundeswehr is able to meet its commitments to NATO, including those related to the VJTF.

MENAFN08032023000045014146ID1105732260