Finland to sell old Soviet-built tanks to Vietnam
The Finnish Defence Forces plan to sell a fleet of old Soviet-built tanks to Vietnam. The 40-year-old tanks no longer meet the requirements of the Finnish military, and scrapping them would be costly. In addition to the T-55 and T-54 tanks, Vietnam is also interested in artillery, and parts for MI-8 helicopters. One aspect of Finland's postwar policy of neutrality was to strike a geopolitical balance in acquisitions of armaments, buying weapons from Western sources, domestic manufacturers, as well as the Soviet Union. Consequently, much of the Soviet weaponry in Finland's arsenal is compatible with the weapons systems of countries of the former socialist bloc.
Dozens of T-55 tanks have been in storage at the Parola garrison in Southern Finland. The barrels of the guns are covered, as the tanks have not been used for two years. The T-55 and T-54 tanks were replaced in 2002 by a fleet of German-made Leopard 2A4s. Although each one of the obsolete tanks contains tonnes of valuable scrap iron, the costs of dealing with the asbestos insulation would probably cancel out any economic benefit.
Vietnam's Minister of Defence Pham Van Tra visited Finland in October last year. In addition to the official programme during the visit, there were discussions on the sale of old weaponry. Jari Takanen of the materiel unit of the Ministry of Defence says that the ministry is now waiting for an official offer from Vietnam, after which it can apply for an export licence from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
"Now they have the initiative. We are waiting for them to say what they want. Then we'll see what we can sell. For instance, we can give up the old tanks immediately. We will not sell helicopter parts as long as we still use the models", Takanen says. "No price tags have been put on anything, but the price will not be high. Dismantling a tank is so expensive, that even if someone is willing to take them for free, it will be worth it." In the 1990s Finland sold Vietnam a large consignment of spare parts for MiG fighter planes. The arms monitoring unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs says that there are no obstacles in principle to selling tanks to Vietnam.
Erik af Hällström of the monitoring unit says that European Union guidelines will be implemented in the sale of the armaments. Vietnam is not on the list of countries that the EU does not sell weapons to, but its neighbour China is, for now. "If the Ministry of Defence applies for permission to export weapons, the issue will be handled separately. In granting the export licence, we will examine, for instance, the commitment of the country to international treaties, human rights questions, and whether or not the weapons might be re-exported", Hällström explains.
Lieutenant Colonel Asko Itkonen, the commander of the Parolannummi tank depot, says that in spite of their age, the tanks are in good shape, and can be deployed at any time. However, their armour is somewhat thin by today's standards, and the calibre of the cannons is fairly small. "We need to keep in mind that Vietnam's neighbours also have tanks that are just as old. The T-55 is very appropriate as providing cover for infantry, for instance. They could also be a big hit for those arranging adventure holidays."
Helsingin Sanomat (.fi) - January 28, 2005
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