Despite not currently owning any German-made Leopard 2 tanks, the Netherlands said Wednesday it is prepared to purchase tanks it currently leases in order to send them to Ukraine.
“If it helps for the Netherlands to also participate, then we are prepared to do so,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told CNN affiliate RTL News.
The Netherlands does not own any battle tanks, having sold all of its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Germany in 2018 and 2021, according to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms.
But the Netherlands does lease 18 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks from Germany. Rutte has suggested that the Netherlands could purchase these tanks outright, and then send them to Ukraine.
“Those conversations are ongoing,” Rutte said. “It could also be that people say, well, it suits us better if you use those tanks in a different manner. So that conversation is taking place.”
He said that while a decision would still have to be taken, “we have said to the Germans that we are prepared to seriously consider it.”