Washington is weighing the cancellation of a proposed deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, a plan initiated during the Biden administration. This consideration stems from concerns over potential Russian retaliation and dwindling US weapon stockpiles following conflicts in the Middle East, Politico reported on 4/6, citing two European officials and one US official.
US and German officials have not yet commented on the information.
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A US technician prepares to load a Tomahawk missile onto a submarine at Guam naval port in 2024. Photo: US Navy |
A US technician prepares to load a Tomahawk missile onto a submarine at Guam naval port in 2024. Photo: US Navy
The original plan to deploy Tomahawk missiles in Germany was announced in mid-2024, based on an agreement between then-leaders Olaf Scholz and Joe Biden. This move aimed to counter Russia's deployment of Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave, which could strike several Western European capitals within minutes. However, the plan has not yet received approval from the Trump administration.
Last month, Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed low expectations for the US deploying Tomahawk missiles in Germany. He cited the strained supply of cruise missiles after the Middle East conflict, stating on German television, "The US currently doesn't even have enough weapons for its own use."
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated at the end of May that the US had launched over 1,000 Tomahawks at Iran. CSIS predicts that US stockpiles will not return to pre-conflict levels until the end of 2030. Raytheon's production line currently manufactures fewer than 200 missiles annually, a rate influenced by historically low past orders.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously acknowledged to the US Congress that it would take months, even years, to replenish expended ammunition.
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A Typhon launcher at Japan's Iwakuni base in September 2025. Photo: Reuters |
A Typhon launcher at Japan's Iwakuni base in September 2025. Photo: Reuters
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed that Germany requested to purchase Tomahawk missiles from the US one and a half years ago and also expressed interest in the Typhon system, which can launch these missiles. However, Berlin has not yet received a response from Washington.
Tomahawk missiles are often referred to as "messengers of war" because the US frequently uses them for preemptive strikes in various conflicts. Each missile costs 2-4 million USD, carries a 450 kg warhead, and has a range of 1,600-2,500 km, depending on the version.
