The Australian government took a significant step in support of Ukraine by delivering a large part of the promised 49 M1A1 "Abrams" tanks. Defense Minister Richard Marles emphasized the strategic importance of this military asset in the context of the current conflict with the Russian Federation.
Official data shows that the tanks are part of a large-scale financial commitment of 1.5 billion Australian dollars that Canberra undertook towards the Ukrainian state. This represents one of the most significant military aids from a country outside the North Atlantic Alliance.
Australia's left-center Labor government definitively identified Russia as the aggressor and consistently supports the Ukrainian position. In addition to the tanks, Australia imposed strict sanctions on Russian individuals and legal entities, including a ban on the export of aluminum ores and oxides.
Minister Marles highlighted that the "Abrams" tanks will significantly contribute to Ukraine's defensive capacity against the "illegal and immoral invasion" of the Russian Federation. The remaining tanks are expected to be delivered in the coming months.
This military package is further evidence of international solidarity with Ukraine and the allies' determination to support its resistance against Russian aggression that began in February 2022.