Berlin to follow 'well-established' process for tank export requests

The German government has said any consideration of export requests for its Leopard tanks will follow "well-established procedures," as Poland announced its intention to send its German-made tanks to Ukraine, reported dpa.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had said over the weekend that the government would not oppose the delivery of Leopard battle tanks from other countries to Ukraine, but government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Monday did not confirm that this was the official government position.

"I would perhaps like to put it this way: If such a request were to be made in Germany, which is not the case at the moment, then there are well-established procedures for answering such a request. And we all abide by them," he said.

Germany holds the export licence for the Leopard tanks, so in order to deliver tanks manufactured in Germany to other countries, Berlin's approval is required, at least officially.

Commenting on the heated nature of the debate over the tanks, Hebestreit said: "We have passionate debates and these passions occasionally lead to exaggerations on all sides." That is understandable, he said, and meant that "not every word should be taken literally."