Australia has made a decision to give 49 of its old M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. This choice comes after Ukraine asked for the tanks that Australia doesnt need anymore. Richard Marles‚ the Defense Minister‚ told everyone about this on Thursday
The tanks are worth about AU$245 million (US$163 million). Australia is giving Ukraine most of its American-made M1A1 tanks. They will get new M1A2 tanks to replace the old ones: 75 of these next-generation tanks
In February Marles said giving Ukraine the tanks as they were being replaced wasnt something they were thinking about. But on Thursday he didnt think this new decision was going back on what they said before. He explained‚ “We talk with the Ukrainian government all the time about how we can help them best“
Marles also said they look at what they have‚ how well it works‚ what shape its in‚ if it can make a difference‚ and if it can be kept working so it can keep fighting. The Abrams tanks fit all of these things they look for
Vasyl Myroshnychenko‚ Ukraines Ambassador to Australia‚ didnt want to talk about some lawmakers saying the tanks should have been given earlier. He said‚ “This is a very timely a very substantial and very fit-for-purpose announcement“. He was happy it was a yes and said he knows it wasnt an easy choice
With these tanks‚ Australia has now given Ukraine more than AU$13 billion (US$866 million) in military help since Russia started its attack in early 2022
The United States said yes to sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January after Ukraine asked for them for a long time. Ukraine said these tanks were really important for them to break through Russian lines