Fact Check: Global Logistics Support (GLS) relinquished ownership of 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ruag MRO as part of the settlement.

Fact Check: Global Logistics Support (GLS) Relinquished Ownership of 25 Leopard 1 Tanks to Ruag MRO

What We Know

The claim states that Global Logistics Support (GLS) relinquished ownership of 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ruag MRO as part of a settlement. Recent reports confirm that Ruag MRO, a Swiss defense contractor, has indeed settled a long-standing dispute with GLS regarding these tanks. According to Swiss public broadcaster SRF, GLS has agreed to give up its ownership claims on the 25 Leopard 1 tanks, which Ruag MRO is now selling to the German defense company Rheinmetall.

The history of the tanks reveals that Ruag MRO purchased a total of 96 Leopard 1 tanks from the Italian Ministry of Defence in 2016. In 2020, 25 of these tanks were sold to GLS for a nominal fee of €12,500. However, GLS did not take possession of the tanks, leading Ruag to refund the purchase price by the end of 2021, while the ownership rights remained disputed, resulting in legal proceedings (Moneycab).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust. The reports from multiple credible sources confirm that GLS has relinquished its claims to the tanks as part of an out-of-court settlement with Ruag MRO. The Swissinfo article states that GLS's decision to forgo ownership rights was confirmed by both parties involved in the dispute. Furthermore, the tanks are now set to be sold to Rheinmetall, indicating that the ownership issue has been resolved.

However, it is important to note that GLS had previously asserted its ownership of the tanks and even obtained a super-provisional injunction from an Italian court to claim them (RUAG). This legal action highlights the complexity of the situation prior to the settlement. The sources also indicate that the financial details of the settlement were not disclosed, which is common in such agreements, but it does not detract from the fact that GLS has relinquished its claims.

The reliability of the sources is high, as they include reputable news outlets and official statements from the involved companies. The Swiss public broadcaster SRF and Moneycab are known for their journalistic integrity, and the information provided aligns across multiple reports.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Global Logistics Support (GLS) relinquished ownership of 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ruag MRO as part of a settlement is accurate. The evidence from credible sources confirms that GLS has indeed given up its ownership claims, allowing Ruag MRO to proceed with the sale of the tanks to Rheinmetall.

Sources

1. Ruag reaches deal with German firm on 25 disputed Leopard tanks
2. GLS reaffirms claim to ownership of Leopard 1 battle tanks - RUAG
3. Ruag MRO legt Streit um 25 Leo-Panzer bei | Moneycab
4. Swiss government greenlights Ruag sale of Leopard tanks ...
5. Swiss-owned battle tanks will not head to Ukraine as country reaffirms ...
6. La société allemande GLS obtient en justice la restitution de chars de Ruag
7. Switzerland Bars Transfer of Leopard Tanks to Ukraine
8. Deutsche Firma GLS erwirkt Herausgabe von 25 Ruag-Panzern - Blick