The decision to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine signals a dangerous escalation of the war. The US has followed Germany’s decision by announcing it will send Abrams tanks and the British are likely to send Challenger tanks.
Ukraine is fighting a war of national defence against an illegitimate Russian invasion. But the war has turned into a proxy war between two imperialist powers, NATO versus Russia and its allies.
NATO has rushed advanced weapons systems such as the HIMARS rocket system to Ukraine. The US is involved in advanced combat training in Germany. British special forces are reported to be involved in raids in Crimea.
The aim of NATO is to prolong the war to weaken its Russian rival. Their escalation will lead to more deaths, more destruction and the flight of ever more Ukrainians from their country. NATO will encourage a fight to the last drop of Ukrainian blood.
The only people gaining from this horrible war are the arms manufacturers. The manufacturer of the Leopard tanks, Rheinmetall, is expected to double its profits. Raytheon has been awarded more than $2 billion in contracts by the US military for the war in Ukraine. Lockheed Martin is making about $2 billion a quarter.
As a neutral country, Ireland should be speaking out for peace. But this government is determined to undermine neutrality to bring us into NATO. We should stop them.
