U.S. approves sale of Tomahawk missiles to Germany, says Chancellor Merz

Germany is set to bolster its defense capabilities with the United States' approval of a Tomahawk missile sale, announced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz confirmed the decision on Thursday, stating that the acquisition will fill a "significant strategic gap" in the nation's defense posture. The deal, approved on the sidelines of the NATO summit, aims to enhance Germany's deterrent capabilities.

While the exact timeline for deployment was not specified, Merz indicated that Germany would simultaneously work on developing its own European missile systems. This move comes after earlier uncertainty surrounding the missile deployment, which had seemed uncertain in early May. Merz had previously cited a shortage of these missiles, partly due to conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, as a reason for the delay, noting that the U.S. itself had insufficient stock.

The deployment of Tomahawk missiles is considered a vital component of Germany's deterrence strategy against Russia. Berlin views these missiles as a necessary countermeasure to Russia's deployment of Iskander cruise missiles in its Kaliningrad enclave, which pose a threat to European targets. The necessity for medium-range missiles in Germany has been a recurring topic among defense experts since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine over four years ago, as European nations currently lack independent capabilities in this area and rely on the United States.