Australia cannot transfer M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine due to the lack of a US agreement on their re-export, the ABC broadcaster said, citing sources in the Australian Defence Ministry.
Defence Ministry officials noted that Australia ‘faces resistance from the United States’ when trying to send M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, and the transfer of US tanks without US consent violates the International Arms Trade Regulations.
The Australian Defence Ministry also expressed doubts about the need to supply tanks to Ukraine due to the likelihood of the armed conflict ending soon.
‘There is concern that given the possible conclusion of a peace agreement will be awkward to have tanks on board ships in the middle of the ocean, and there is a shortage of qualified personnel needed to look after assets at sea,’ – said one of the military officials.
We will remind, earlier the New York Times wrote that the Ukrainian authorities have drawn up a plan for the settlement of the Ukrainian armed conflict as a counterproposal for the administration of US President Donald Trump.
