US Approves Tomahawk Sales to Germany After Initial Reluctance

The US has approved the sale of Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Germany, reversing course after earlier reports that Washington was considering scrapping the deployment over concerns that it could escalate tensions with Russia.

Speaking in parliament on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the agreement was reached on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.

“We agreed with the American government that American Tomahawk missiles will be purchased by us and stationed in Germany,” Merz said.

He described the purchase as a major step toward closing an “important strategic gap” in Germany’s defenses.

Merz added that Germany would also continue investing in European-made long-range strike systems.

According to a German government source cited by AFP, defense ministers from both countries signed a letter of intent Tuesday after negotiations involving Merz, US President Donald Trump and senior security officials.

Under the agreement, Washington is expected to formally approve the sale of Tomahawk missiles and ground-based Typhon launchers by August. The number of missiles Germany plans to acquire remains classified.

Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can strike targets more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away, are regarded by Berlin as a key component of its deterrence strategy against Russia.

Germany currently has no European-made alternative with comparable range and precision, leaving it dependent on US systems.

Other Topics of Interest

Putin Rejected Frontline Ceasefire Proposal, Rebuked Advisers – Reuters

Sources say the Russian leader dismissed advisers' proposal to freeze the war along current front lines as Kyiv's strikes hardened his position.

The announcement came one day after Britain unveiled a joint initiative involving 12 European NATO members, including Germany, to invest around $50 billion over the next decade in developing new long-range precision weapons.

German officials said Berlin is expected to finance roughly half of the project.

Earlier reports suggested that the United States was considering dropping plans to provide Germany with Tomahawk capabilities.

According to reports in early June, the Pentagon was considering canceling the deployment, citing concerns that Russia could view it as escalatory, as well as pressure on US missile stockpiles caused by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

German officials had warned that abandoning the plan would leave Europe with a significant long-range strike capability gap at a time when Russia continues deploying Iskander missile systems in Kaliningrad and Belarus.