Did Lambrecht's resignation reshape Germany's Ukraine debate on 16 January 2023?
A look back at the day Germany's defence minister left the cabinet, days after London pledged tanks to Kyiv.
Why did Germany's defence minister leave office on 16 January 2023? Christine Lambrecht resigned from the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid criticism of her response to the war in Ukraine.
The resignation came two days after a notable announcement from London. On 14 January 2023, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the United Kingdom would send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks, together with 30 self-propelled AS-90 howitzers. British forces were also to train Ukrainian troops to operate the tanks.
The two developments unfolded within days of each other. The British pledge set out specific numbers of armoured vehicles and artillery pieces, and a training commitment. In Berlin, meanwhile, the defence portfolio was left vacant by Lambrecht's departure, which followed the criticism of how she had handled Germany's response to the war.
