Overview
- This week Germany announced plans to buy US Tomahawk cruise missiles after Chancellor Friedrich Merz secured a pledge from President Donald Trump that the United States will approve the export.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the move an “excellent” development and stressed the alliance sees the purchase as defensive, saying NATO will not use the weapons to attack others.
- The Bundeswehr says Tomahawks fired from the Typhon launcher would reach about 2,500 kilometers, a major increase from Germany’s current Taurus missiles that reach roughly 500 kilometers.
- Key procurement details — including how many missiles and the price — are being kept secret, and the Trump administration has not followed earlier Biden-era public plans to station US long-range systems in Germany.
- If delivered, the weapons would broaden German options for precise strikes on deep targets such as command centers and airbases, which could strengthen deterrence but also prompt close diplomatic management with Russia.