The United States and the Netherlands are set to buy dozens of T-72 tanks from Morocco and then forward the weapons on to Ukraine, in a deal negotiated in secret between Washington and Rabat. Notably, the move marks a deviation from Morocco’s neutral stance toward the conflict with Russia.
Under the agreement, the US and the Netherlands will buy 90 T-72B Main Battle Tanks for $95 million, and there is an option to add 30 tanks to the sale next year. Rabat will provide spare parts, and the tanks will be upgraded by Excalibur, a Czech military contractor.
Though Morocco owns the vehicles, at least some are already undergoing upgrades in the Czech Republic. The first five tanks will be sent out next week, while Excalibur plans to ship 18 T-72s by the end of the year, according to the company’s commercial director Richard Kubena. The Czech Ministry of Defense confirmed the sale in a statement, saying “the final customer has satisfied the request of the above-mentioned countries and considers the agreement reached on the transfer of tanks (in exchange for other equipment) as assistance to the government of Ukraine.”
Poster Comment:
Very few of these tanks will ever arrive. I read of a dual pronged Russian attack. One from Belarus to cut Kiev off from the Polish border but not to seize the town. The other prong from Russia to knock out Sumy which is the transfer point for both the Ukraine's Electrical power grid and for their rail network. Sumy is next door to Kharkov.The Ukrainians sent 20,000 soldiers to invade Russia for a propaganda ploy. The Russians will wipe these men out, bypass Kharkov and go South all the way to Pokrovsk, Ukraine which is 84 kms to Donestsk. They are grinding away at Bakhmut and will soon make a breakthrough. The Russians have at least 20,000 air mobile troops that can be sent is to make a break.
If successful, they would cut Kiev off from the West and cut off their Donbass fighters from ammunition, food and diesel. They could capture 40,000 NATO soldiers in the Donbass.