Over the last two weeks, following meetings at both Davos and the base in Ramstein, Germany, a series of deals have been announced that will send a plethora of Western weapons to Ukraine. The focus of much of the debate over these weeks has been on main battle tanks, with Ukraine desperately needing something to give it the edge against the Russian armor that has proven to be effective in multiple engagements. In short, Russia may have lost over 1,600 tanks in Ukraine, but the tank is definitely not dead, Russia has thousands more, and Ukraine wants to match them with better Western tanks.
After much wrangling, diplomacy, and public pressure, Germany has agreed to send Ukraine some of its Leopard 2 main battle tanks and agreed to allow other nations that purchased Leopard 2 tanks to send some of their tanks to Ukraine. Reportedly, part of the deal in getting Germany to send their tanks was an agreement for the U.S. to send its M1A2 Abrams tank, and that’s what President Joe Biden is expected to talk about when he addresses the nation at noon Eastern Time today.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023 · 5:12:41 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
“This is about freedom. Freedom for Ukraine. Freedom for everyone. It’s about the kind of world we want to live in.”
Biden responds to a question asking if Germany “forced him” to make this decision — which is such an upside down version of events. Biden gives a quick response.
And that’s it. 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks officially on their way, training to begin immediately, but no date on actual tank delivery.
Reports have indicated that the U.S. will send 30 of the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank. However, some reports have indicated that these tanks may not be delivered for months, or even years. Some sources have stated that these will not be tanks taken from the thousands the U.S. has in storage, but will be new export models of the Abrams, made available after the roll of the line.
Biden will hopefully clear this up when he speaks.
Markos and Kerry are joined by University of St. Andrews Professor of Strategic Studies, Phillips P. O’Brien. O’Brien, an expert in military history, explains how we got to where we are right now, what is unique about the world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the parallels between the conservative movement’s isolationism in World War II and now.