The Netherlands has announced plans to re-establish its own tank battalion after getting rid of all its tanks in 2011.
The country will reportedly acquire nearly 50 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks from Germany to satisfy NATO’s demand for robust ground combat firepower.
It is expected to spend up to 315 million euros ($350 million) annually to sustain the new battalion and cover the operational expenses of about 350 military personnel.
Amsterdam had nearly 1,000 fully operational tanks at the height of the Cold War. However, budget cuts forced the military to phase them out gradually by 2011.
Without a single tank left to support its ground operations, the country leased 18 Leopard 2 tanks from Berlin in 2015, but these were integrated into a German unit and stationed abroad.
Addressing Long-Standing Issue
The decision to get rid of all its tanks has been a persistent issue for the Royal Dutch Army.
The move was controversial, but then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the country had to make “difficult choices” following the 2008 recession.
But as threats in the region rapidly increased due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Dutch government saw the necessity for adequate ground firepower.
“Without the tank, maneuvers such as a breach or a turning movement are no longer possible,” a tank company commander said in 2020.
More members of the House of Representatives now support the establishment of a new tank battalion, with an initial plan previously getting discontinued due to budget constraints.
Clear Consensus
Local media outlets reported that there is a broad consensus in the Dutch government regarding the type of tank to be procured.
The Dutch Army has over four decades of experience with the Leopard 2 tank and collaborates closely with its German counterpart in operating them.
Additionally, Amsterdam was invited to a Berlin-led procurement initiative that aimed to consolidate demand and reduce the costs of the Leopard 2A8.
