Switzerland has begun the process of handing over nine Leopard 2 battle tanks to Germany, marking the initial phase of the decommissioning agreement involving a total of 25 tanks.

The tanks were transported to Germany via train on Tuesday, with an additional nine tanks scheduled for transportation on Wednesday, while the remaining seven will be exported by road. As part of the resale agreement between the two nations, the tanks will stay in Germany, either with NATO or European Union partners, and will not be sent to Ukraine.

Switzerland's Federal Armaments Office (Armasuisse) facilitated the handover, and the tanks were sold to the German company Rheinmetall. The Swiss parliament, in September, granted approval for the decommissioning and resale, emphasizing that the tanks should be sold back to their original manufacturer. The Swiss army, which currently operates 134 Leopard 2 tanks and has 96 in storage, took the 25 tanks from its reserve armored vehicles.

The agreement with Rheinmetall includes the transportation of the tanks to Germany, where they will undergo overhauls. During this process, Rheinmetall will dismantle parts that can still be used by the active fleet of the Swiss army at no cost and return them to Switzerland. Additionally, the contract involves further orders from Rheinmetall for Swiss industry equivalent to the sales price and planned services for the Swiss army's tank fleet.

Defence Minister Viola Amherd defended the decision in parliament, stating that the resale aligns with Swiss neutrality and contributes to Europe's security. The tanks will remain in Germany or other NATO and EU member states, ensuring they are used to enhance defense capabilities. Despite some criticism from the Swiss People's Party and center-right parliamentarians, the majority supported the decommissioning and export decision.

Germany has assured that the tanks will not be sent to Ukraine, either directly or indirectly, and will be used to complete their armament in Germany or within NATO and EU member states. Photo by Bundeswehr-Fotos, Wikimedia commons.