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Germany Strengthens Long-Range Strike Capability with US Missile Purchase
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday that Germany will purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States and deploy them on German territory, marking a significant shift in the country’s defense posture.
The decision moves away from an earlier arrangement where the US was expected to station long-range missiles in Germany, with Berlin now taking ownership of its own strategic capability.
Strategic Defense Gap Closed
Speaking in parliament, Merz confirmed he finalized the agreement with the US government during the NATO summit in Ankara, describing the talks as exceeding his expectations.
“We are closing a critical strategic gap in our defense, while simultaneously working to develop our own European systems and station them in Europe,” Merz stated.
Agreement Details
According to German government sources, Washington signed a letter of intent on Tuesday committing to approve Germany’s purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers in August. The number of missiles and launchers being acquired remains classified for security reasons.
The current German-operated Taurus cruise missile has a range of approximately 500 kilometers, significantly shorter than the Tomahawk’s extended reach.
Response to US Defense Calls
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s push for European allies to shoulder greater responsibility for their own defense, including purchasing American-made military equipment.
The decision comes after Trump announced in May that the United States would reduce its military presence in Germany, effectively ending an earlier plan to deploy a battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk missiles as an interim deterrent against Russia while European nations developed comparable weapons.
European Defense Integration
Germany’s acquisition represents a dual-track approach: immediately closing capability gaps while working to develop European defense systems for long-term strategic autonomy. The deployment on German territory ensures Berlin maintains direct control over the missiles, strengthening its independent defense posture within NATO commitments.
