Germany has agreed with the United States to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles and station them on German soil, closing what Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as a "critical strategic gap" in the country's defense against Russia [1, 2, 3, 4].
The deal was finalized during the NATO summit held July 7-8 in Ankara. Merz announced the agreement in a parliamentary speech in Berlin on July 9, saying, "We also agreed with the US government on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Ankara that we would purchase U.S. Tomahawk missiles and station them in Germany. This will help us close an important strategic gap in our defense" [1, 4]. He added, "The meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday had exceeded my expectations" [3].
On July 7, Germany and the US signed a letter of intent that outlined the procurement of Tomahawk missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers. Washington is expected to grant formal approval for the sale in August [3]. The number of missiles and launchers planned remains classified. [3]
Germany currently produces its own Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of approximately 500 kilometers. The longer-range Tomahawk missile offers 3 to 5 times the range of the Taurus, providing more strategic coverage [3]. Merz stated Germany will continue developing its own European missile systems while stationing US systems in Europe [1, 2, 4].
The deal follows uncertainty over previous plans to deploy US Tomahawk missiles in Germany amid former President Donald Trump's May 2026 announcement to reduce US military presence in the country [1, 2, 3]. The planned purchase aligns with Trump's broader push for European allies to finance their own security through US arms purchases [3].
Germany’s formal procurement approval from Washington is expected in August 2026, allowing the planned missile acquisition to proceed [3].
