Germany took a significant step toward building its own long-range strike capability by purchasing Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the deal during NATO's summit in Ankara.
Speaking in parliament, Merz said, "We are closing a critical strategic gap in our defense while also working to develop and deploy our own European systems in Europe."
German government sources reported that Washington, through a letter of intent signed on Tuesday, committed to approving Germany's procurement of Tomahawk missiles and corresponding ground-based launchers in August. The number of missiles and launchers Germany plans to acquire was not disclosed, citing classified information.
The purchase appears to align with US President Donald Trump's pressure on European allies to pay more for their own security. Trump announced in May that he would reduce the US military presence in Germany, which had cast uncertainty over the future of Tomahawk supply.
The reduction was seen as the cancellation of the previous administration's plan to deploy a US battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany. That plan was designed as a temporary deterrent against Russia until Europeans developed their own similar weapons.
While Germany's own Taurus cruise missile has a range of about 500 kilometers, the Tomahawk's range is three to five times that.