German Chancellor Merz Announces Purchase of US Tomahawk Missiles

At the NATO summit in Ankara, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that Germany will acquire U.S. Tomahawk medium‑range cruise missiles to address a perceived strategic gap in its defence. The missiles, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometres, are to be stationed on German soil, but no U.S. personnel will be deployed to operate them. An accompanying agreement, negotiated with President Donald Trump, foresees formal approval of the sale and the related Typhon launch‑pad systems in August, although the exact number and cost remain undisclosed.

The announcement coincided with a joint declaration by European defence ministers to accelerate development of indigenous European medium‑range weapons. Domestically, the plan attracted criticism from opposition parties, with the AfD and the Greens accusing the government of a "arms rush" and questioning the policy’s priority amid economic concerns.