Seoul, South Korea
Mahaz News
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday requested South Korea to rethink its rule on not exporting weapons to nations in battle so it may assist arm Ukraine in repelling Russia’s invasion.
“I urge the Republic of Korea to continue and to step up the specific issue of military support,” he stated in a query and reply session after a speech to the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies in Seoul.
“Several NATO allies who had as a policy never to export weapons to countries in conflict have changed that policy now,” Stoltenberg stated, citing Germany, Norway and NATO applicant Sweden as these which have modified their arms export insurance policies to assist Ukraine.
“After the brutal invasion of Ukraine, these nations modified their coverage as a result of they realized that when you’re dealing with a brutal invasion the place a giant energy – Russia – invades one other one in a blatant method as we now have seen in Ukraine, if we imagine in freedom, if we imagine in democracy, if we don’t need autocracy and tyranny to win, then they want weapons.
“When the full-fledged invasion happened last year, many countries changed their policy because they realized that the only way to stand up for democracy, to help Ukraine prevail, and to create the conditions for a lasting peace was to deliver military support.”
Military assist for Ukraine obtained a giant enhance final week when Germany stated it might ship 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, whereas additionally allowing different nations that possess the Leopards, together with Norway, to provide them.
The Leopard 2 is a subsequent technology tank that’s each agile and fast, regardless of being outfitted with superior protecting armor and long-range firepower. It is taken into account among the many finest on the planet and superior to something Russia has deployed in Ukraine.
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In addition to the Leopards, Ukraine is ready to obtain heavy armor from each the United States, which is sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks, and the United Kingdom, which has pledged 14 Challenger tanks.
Some consultants say the South Korean K2 Panther can be in that group of high tanks and could possibly be helpful for Ukraine.
But a South Korean presidential decree that enforces the nation’s Foreign Trade Act says its exports can solely be used for “peaceful purposes” and “shall not affect international peace, safety maintenance, and national security.”
South Korea can be a signatory to the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty, ratified in 2014 with the intention of retaining shut management on who will get weapons and below what circumstances they can be utilized.
But that doesn’t imply South Korea’s arms business isn’t seeing a task in Ukraine’s battle with Russia.
In December, a US protection official informed Mahaz News that Washington intends to purchase 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition from South Korean arms producers to offer to Ukraine.
The rounds might be transferred to Ukraine by way of the US, permitting Seoul to stay to its public pledge that it might not ship deadly assist to the war-torn nation.
And one of many largest navy supporters of Ukraine – Poland – signed a significant weapons take care of South Korea final 12 months for tons of of tanks and howizters and dozens of fighter jets.
The deal will allow Poland to exchange most of the weapons that Warsaw has despatched to Kyiv.
Stoltenberg stated Monday that it’s crucial that democracies should stand with Ukraine for so long as it takes for Kyiv to win the battle.
“Because if if [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin wins, the message to him and other authoritarian leaders will be that they can get what they want with the use of force,” he stated. “This would make the world more dangerous and us more vulnerable.”
Hear NATO chief’s message to Russia following tank cargo announcement
Source web site: www.cnn.com
