US officials ‘frustrated' over Australian tank shipment to Ukraine
Australia has announced it will ship 49 decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine after receiving approval from the US. The decision has reportedly sparked criticism from American and Australian officials alike, who question whether Ukraine will be able to actually use them due to logistics issues and vulnerability to Russian drones.
The start of the delivery was confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Rome on Sunday. According to ABC, the loading of the first tanks onto a cargo ship has commenced, though specific details about their location and arrival date remain undisclosed for security reasons.
The transfer of the Abrams required US approval due to their American origin. While Washington eventually granted permission, US officials have privately expressed 'frustration' over the move, ABC reported.
'Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield, the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain,' one unnamed US official told the network.
Australian defense officials echoed the concerns. 'We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war,' an ABC source noted.
In late 2023, the US, under former President Joe Biden, supplied 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Media reports claim that the heavy armor, estimated to cost $10 million each, has faced challenges on the battlefield, including drone strikes and rough terrain.
Russia claims to have destroyed several Abrams tanks. In May 2024, it showcased a captured tank at a military exhibition in Moscow alongside troves of other Western equipment.
Moscow has denounced the Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without changing the outcome.
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