**Australia Sends Retired Abrams Tanks to Ukraine Despite US Objections**
In a move that has raised eyebrows, Australian authorities have begun loading the first of 49 decommissioned Abrams tanks onto a cargo ship headed for Ukraine. The shipment is part of a broader military aid package pledged by Australia in October 2024.
The development comes despite continued private objections from U.S. officials, who have questioned the usefulness of these retired tanks on the Ukrainian battlefield. According to reports from Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), U.S. officials have expressed concerns about the vulnerability of these Abrams tanks to Russian drones due to their weak roof.
These objections have been ongoing since April, when ABC first reported that the shipment was delayed due to resistance from Washington. However, despite the private protests, Washington eventually gave permission for Australia to begin shipping out the U.S.-made tanks to Ukraine.
**US Resistance to Military Aid**
It’s worth noting that the Biden administration has faced criticism for its reluctance to allocate additional military aid to Ukraine. In contrast, President Joe Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, has aimed to broker a peace deal with Russia instead of providing further military support to Kyiv.
This move by Australia to send retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine is seen as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression. However, the effectiveness of these tanks on the battlefield remains a question mark, especially given the high risk of detection by Russian drones.
**Background**
Ukraine received its first 31 Abrams tanks from the Biden administration in late 2023. However, it’s unclear how many are still operational as of this year. The Associated Press (AP) reported in April 2024 that Ukrainian forces were pulling the tanks from the front lines due to the high risk of detection by Russian drones.
The Ukrainian military has denied these claims, but the effectiveness of Abrams tanks on the battlefield remains a topic of debate among Western officials. With Australia sending its own batch of retired Abrams tanks, it’s clear that the debate is far from over.
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