Germany to Host U.S. Tomahawk Missiles After Deal Reached

Germany will host Tomahawk cruise missiles after all, following a deal struck with the United States on the sale of the weapons. The agreement was reached on the sidelines of a NATO summit, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The stationing of the missiles in Germany had been uncertain for months after the U.S. announced troop withdrawals from the country. "This fills an important strategic gap in our defense," Merz told the German parliament. Earlier doubts arose in May due to tensions between Merz and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. Merz had criticized the U.S. strategy in the Iran war, calling Americans "humiliated" by the Iranian regime, which Trump did not appreciate. Trump subsequently announced the withdrawal of at least 5,000 soldiers from Germany and suggested the Tomahawks might not be deployed there. Germany had agreed with Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, in 2024 to station U.S. cruise missiles to counter Russian threats. The Tomahawks have a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, making their potential cancellation a blow to German and European defense strategy. Germany will now purchase and station the missiles. Merz acknowledged that the purchase alone is insufficient for adequate European protection. "At the same time, we are working on the development of our own European systems and their deployment in Europe," he stated, noting that European nations currently lack such capabilities and depend on the U.S. However, European defense cooperation faces challenges, with Germany and France recently halting the development of a joint fighter jet. In a separate development, Canada ordered 12 submarines from a German manufacturer this week, valued at over 10 billion euros, which Merz called "one of the largest, if not the largest, defense orders in German history."

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Hiermee vullen we een belangrijke strategische leemte in onze defensie op