BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The German government has made it clear that it will not make the delivery of German-made Leopard 2 tanks conditional on the supply of U.S. M1 Abrams tanks. "At no time (...) has there been a junket or a demand that one must take place so that the other can take place," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in Berlin on Friday. Earlier, Bild and Süddeutsche Zeitung had reported that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wanted to deliver the Leopard tanks only if the U.S. pledged its Abrams tanks.

"I find it hard to imagine a German chancellor dictating any conditions or making any demands to an American president," Hebestreit said in response. But he also reiterated that coordinated action with the U.S. was important to the German government. This was also the case, he said, with the decisions on the Marder infantry fighting vehicles and the multiple rocket launchers.

Poland and Finland have already announced their intention to supply Leopard 2 tanks as part of a European alliance. Germany has not yet taken a position on this. Hebestreit said there was still no official request from Poland. On the question of how the German government would react if Poland were to deliver without a license, the government spokesman said, "All our partners certainly want to behave in a law-abiding manner."/mfi/DP/jha