US May Scrap Germany Tomahawk Deployment

The Pentagon is considering canceling a planned deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany, according to Politico, in a move that would mark a break with an agreement reached under former President Joe Biden.

US and European officials said Washington was concerned about Russia’s possible response to the deployment of long-range precision missiles in Central Europe. There are also concerns about dwindling US weapons stockpiles after recent military operations.

A cancellation would be a particular blow to Germany, which is seeking to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its defenses against possible threats from Russia. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously acknowledged that the United States may not have enough Tomahawk missiles even for its own needs.

The missile debate comes during a broader shift in the US approach to NATO. Washington has already canceled a planned deployment of about 5,000 troops in Germany and announced further redeployments of forces and equipment. Pentagon officials have said European allies should gradually take greater responsibility for their own conventional defense.

Germany is now looking for alternatives, including European long-range precision strike systems. Berlin has also warned that Russian missile systems in the Kaliningrad region and Belarus pose a significant security challenge for Europe.

(max)