Croatia pledges to buy up to 50 Leopard tanks from Germany
by AFP Staff Writers
Zagreb (AFP) Oct 28, 2024
Croatia will buy up to 50 Leopard tanks from Germany in a transaction that includes sending some of its older tanks and other military equipment to Ukraine, the Ministry of defence said on Monday.

The letter of intent signed by Croatian defence minister Ivan Anusic and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin calls for Zagreb to deliver 30 tanks, 30 combat vehicles, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine.

According to the Croatian defense ministry, the value of these older Eastern European-made weapons will be deducted from the total price for the new Leopards 2A8 that Croatia will buy.

"The added value of this purchase model is the help for Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression", the ministry said in a statement. Details of the accord will be announced after its full signing.

Anusic said the agreement will be implemented quickly. "This is one of the most important projects of modernization of the Croatian army," he said.

According to the ministry, Croatia will also purchase US-made Himars M142 rocket systems as well as drones.

In April Croatia took delivery of six Rafale fighter jets from France, the first batch of the 12 it had purchased.

Since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022, Croatia has delivered military aid worth more than 200 million euros ($220 million) to Ukraine.

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