NATO Enhances Military Deterrence in Europe: US to Deploy Tomahawk Missiles in Germany for the First Time Since the Cold War

The United States is stepping up its military deterrence to protect NATO partners in Europe. To this end, Tomahawk cruise missiles and other long-range weapons are to be deployed in Germany starting in 2026. 

Germany and the United States announced this in a joint statement on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Washington. The relocation of weapons was initially planned as "temporary" and was to become "permanent".  In particular, we are talking about Tomahawk cruise missiles. They have a range of up to 2,500 kilometres. Similar to the German Taurus weapon system, cruise missiles are capable of penetrating enemy territory at low altitude and destroying important targets. This can include command posts, bunkers, and radar systems. Cruise missiles are launched from ships or submarines, while Taurus is launched from aircraft. The last time the US deployed such long-range weapons in Germany was in the 1990s.

Also mentioned were SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and supersonic weapons that are still under development and will have "significantly longer range than current land-based systems in Europe".

These measures are a response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The day before, the United States, the Netherlands and Denmark announced at the NATO summit that Ukraine would receive the promised F-16 fighter jets this summer. The movement of the aircraft is already underway, US Secretary of State Blinken said. Earlier, US President Biden said that Kyiv would receive additional Patriot air defence systems.