The Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Mertz announced an agreement with the USA regarding the purchase and deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles. He made the announcement during a government speech following the NATO summit in Ankara. According to Mertz, the relevant protocol of intent was signed on Tuesday by the defense ministers of both countries. “We are thus filling an important strategic gap in our defense,” he said. A spokesman for the federal government noted that this announcement had been previously coordinated with the American side.
Government sources reported that on Tuesday, Defense Ministers Pete Hegseth and Boris Pistorius signed the protocol of intent. This followed several discussions between the Chancellor and US President Donald Trump, after which the agreements were finalized by national security advisors. The negotiations were led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the American side and the Chancellor’s foreign policy advisor Günther Sautter on the German side.
Under the agreements, the USA will grant permission for the purchase of Tomahawk missiles and the necessary ground-based Typhon launchers in August. The exact number of missiles remains classified. Government sources indicated that the presence of American personnel on German territory will not be required for this arrangement.
Prerequisites and Delivery Terms
The federal government has been attempting to purchase Tomahawk missiles along with Typhon launchers for some time. The urgency of the situation increased after the USA canceled the planned deployment of its own unit equipped with Tomahawk missiles in Germany this spring, which was scheduled for this year.
It is currently unclear when the purchased Tomahawk missiles will arrive in Germany. Reports from the USA indicate limited stocks and supply challenges, partly due to the use of these missiles in strikes on Iran.
Strategic Significance and European Prospects
Germany will continue to work on the development and deployment of its own European missile systems, Mertz stated in the Bundestag. However, he noted that it may take several more years before these systems are ready. This time gap is intended to be filled by the Tomahawk missiles.
Source: FAZ
