Germany to Purchase US Tomahawk Missiles for Domestic Deployment

Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on July 9, 2026, that Germany has reached an agreement with the United States to purchase and station long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers on German soil. The deal was finalized on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, with formal U.S. approval expected in August.

The acquisition represents a shift in Germany's defense posture. Rather than relying on the U.S. to station the missiles, Berlin will take direct ownership to close what Merz described as a "critical strategic gap" in national defense. This move follows President Donald Trump's demands for European allies to shoulder more defense costs and his decision to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next year.

Tomahawk missiles have a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers and are designed to strike deep inland targets. While prioritizing these immediate American capabilities, Merz stated that Germany will simultaneously work to develop independent European weapon systems to ensure long-term strategic autonomy.