US to Deploy Cruise Missiles in Germany

Long-range US missiles are set to be periodically deployed in Germany from 2026, marking the first such move since the Cold War. This decision was announced during NATO’s 75th anniversary summit. The deployment will include Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6, and hypersonic missiles, which have a significantly longer range than current missiles, according to a joint statement from the US and Germany.

These types of missiles were once banned under a 1988 treaty between the US and the former Soviet Union, which disintegrated five years ago. In response to this development, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that Moscow would react with a “military response to the new threat,” accusing NATO and the US of attempting to intimidate Russia. Ryabkov described the missile deployment as part of an escalating course of actions by NATO.

The joint US-German statement clarified that the initial “episodic” deployment of the missiles is expected to become permanent, reinforcing the US commitment to NATO and Europe’s “integrated deterrence.” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking at the NATO summit in Washington, highlighted that this move aims to encourage Germany and other European countries to invest in developing and procuring longer-range missiles. He emphasized that the temporary deployment would provide NATO allies with time to prepare, addressing what he described as a “serious gap in capability in Europe.”

Previously banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which covered ground-launched missiles with a range between 500-5,500 km (310-3,400 miles), these missiles’ return is significant. Russian President Vladimir Putin found the INF Treaty too restrictive, and in 2014, the US accused Russia of violating the pact with a new type of nuclear-capable cruise missile. The US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, followed by Russia.

Within Germany, the decision has faced criticism, particularly from the Greens, a party in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition. Sara Nanni, the Greens’ spokeswoman on security, expressed frustration over Scholz’s lack of commentary on the decision, warning that it could heighten fears and provide opportunities for disinformation and incitement.