U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration over Australia’s decision to send 49 retired M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, as the first vehicles begin their journey to Europe amid growing concerns about their battlefield effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) confirmed that loading of the tanks onto a cargo ship has commenced, though the federal government is withholding details about their transit and arrival timeline for security reasons. The donation was finalized following the necessary U.S. export approval, as the Abrams tanks are American-made.
During a recent meeting in Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the shipment, which marks one of Australia's most substantial military contributions to Ukraine to date. However, behind the scenes, U.S. officials remain skeptical.
“Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated,” one U.S. official told the ABC on condition of anonymity. “Once they finally get to the battlefield, the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain.”
Concerns have also emerged within the Australian Defence establishment. An unnamed official noted that while the gesture demonstrates support, the practicality of deploying older heavy tanks in a drone-dominated war is questionable. “We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams, and this is a drone war,” the official said.
Despite these concerns, the donation was welcomed by Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, who has consistently advocated for stronger Australian military support. In contrast, Defence Minister Richard Marles declined to address whether U.S. officials had directly raised objections.
“We've been working very closely with Ukraine, very closely with the United States, to see this shipment occur and to see the tanks be on their way,” Marles said during a press briefing in Melbourne. “The first tranche has been on their way now for some time, but I'm not going to go into the specific details of that.”
The tanks are expected to pass through a logistics hub in Poland, which experienced disruptions earlier this year due to a temporary suspension of U.S. military aid by President Trump. The hub has since resumed full operations.
Australia’s Defence Department reaffirmed that delivery remains on track for 2025, with continued coordination underway regarding sustainment and training. The controversy follows last year’s decision by the Albanese government to decline Ukraine’s request for retired Taipan helicopters, citing operational complexity.
As the war in Ukraine evolves, the utility and sustainability of donated heavy equipment like the Abrams tanks remain a point of debate among allies, raising questions about how best to tailor military aid to the realities of modern warfare.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and Azerbaijan’s Pr...
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rising as a ceasefire nears expiry with no agreement in place, amid reported attacks on vessels that have heig...
Bulgarians headed to the polls on Sunday (19 April) in their eighth election in five years, with early signs pointing...
Secretly filmed footage from two UK laboratories has reignited debate over animal testing in drug development, after a former worker alleged that m...
Cleanup efforts are underway in Lena, Illinois, after a suspected tornado tore through the village on Friday (17 April), damaging homes, schools an...
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rising as a ceasefire nears expiry with no agreement in place, amid reported attacks on vessels that have heightened fears of renewed conflict and disruption to global oil supplies.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
The United States has expanded its naval blockade on Iran, allowing forces to stop, search and seize vessels suspected of carrying “contraband”, as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned U.S. forces are ready to resume combat if no deal is reached.
Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots have demonstrated improvements in speed, balance and autonomous navigation after completing a half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday (19 April), in a showcase of the country’s fast-developing robotics sector.
The U.S. Navy has forcibly intercepted and boarded the Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the ongoing naval blockade. President Trump confirmed that the vessel was neutralised and seized by Marines following a direct strike on its engine room.
Two Indian-flagged ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, India's Foreign Ministry said, as Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, less than 24 hours after reopening the 167km long sea passage, which is essential for global trade.
Six people have been killed after a man opened fire in a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Saturday (18 April). Ukraine's Security Service said it was investigating the incident as a "terrorist act."
Global leaders and diplomats gathered in southern Türkiye on 17 April for the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, focusing on uncertainty, conflict, and the future of global cooperation.
Secretly filmed footage from two UK laboratories has reignited debate over animal testing in drug development, after a former worker alleged that monkeys, dogs and other animals endured prolonged distress during safety trials for new medicines.
Cleanup efforts are underway in Lena, Illinois, after a suspected tornado tore through the village on Friday (17 April), damaging homes, schools and infrastructure, leaving thousands without power. Residents and emergency crews spent Saturday clearing debris, and working around downed power lines.
North Korea fired ballistic missiles towards the sea off its eastern coast on Sunday (19 April), accelerating its weapons tests amid heightened regional tensions linked to the Iran war and renewed diplomatic signals toward the United States and South Korea.
Construction of U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project will be allowed to continue after an appeals court granted an administrative stay, temporarily blocking a lower court order that had halted parts of the work.
European countries should expand the role of natural gas in their energy systems to reduce the risk of supply shocks caused by international crises, an energy industry chief has said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment