Berlin Signs Long-Range US Tomahawk Missile Deal With Washington, Eyes Future European Defence Systems

Germany has reached an agreement to acquire US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles , Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Thursday, in a major step to strengthen the country's long-range strike capabilities amid growing security concerns in Europe.

The understanding was reached this week on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye , following discussions with the administration of US President Donald Trump . Addressing the German parliament after returning from the two-day summit, Merz said the purchase would help close an important strategic gap in Germany's defence while Europe simultaneously develops its own missile systems.

"This will close an important strategic gap in our defence, and at the same time, we will work to develop our own European systems and station them in Europe," Merz said.

The Tomahawk is among the most widely used long-range cruise missiles in the US military arsenal. Introduced in the 1980s , it is designed to strike targets deep inside hostile territory with high precision. Unlike ballistic missiles, it flies at a very low altitude, about 30 metres (100 feet) above the ground, and follows a pre-programmed route, making it difficult for enemy radar and air-defence systems to detect. The missile has a range of roughly 1,600 kilometres and can be launched from warships, submarines and, with newer systems, from ground-based launchers.

Besides the United States , the United Kingdom has long operated Tomahawk missiles on its Royal Navy submarines. In recent years, the US has also approved sales of the weapon to allies including Australia , Japan and the Netherlands , as those countries seek to bolster their long-range deterrence capabilities. Germany's planned acquisition would add another major NATO member to the list of operators or approved buyers of the missile system.

Over the decades, the Tomahawk has been used in several major military operations, including the 1991 Gulf War , the 1998 US strikes on Sudan and Afghanistan , the 2003 Iraq War , the 2011 NATO-led intervention in Libya , and the 2017 and 2018 strikes on Syria . Its long range and precision have made it a key weapon for targeting military infrastructure, command centres and air-defence installations.

Under the agreement, the United States is expected to grant Germany approval in August to procure an undisclosed number of Tomahawk missiles along with corresponding ground-based Typhoon launchers . The letter of intent signed on Tuesday does not provide for the deployment of US personnel to operate the systems.

The move reflects the broader transformation of European defence policy since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 , which has prompted NATO members to increase military spending and strengthen deterrence. For Germany, the deal represents both an immediate enhancement of its defence capabilities and a longer-term effort to develop stronger European security systems alongside its allies.