Germany agrees deal to buy long-range US Tomahawk missiles, Merz says

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany has agreed to buy U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, in a deal he said was struck this week on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.

The purchase would give Germany a long-range strike capability it currently lacks on land. Merz said the missiles are to be stationed in Germany and would not involve U.S. personnel operating them.

The agreement is tied to a separate U.S. approval step expected in August for an undisclosed number of Tomahawks and corresponding Typhon ground launchers.

Aimed at a strategic gap

Merz said the deal is intended to close an important strategic gap in Germany's defense. The Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile with a range of about 1,600 kilometers, according to AP reporting.

Germany's move comes as European governments continue to debate how quickly to expand long-range strike and air-defense capabilities in response to Russia's war against Ukraine.

Broader defense context

Merz also said Germany will continue developing its own European missile systems alongside the U.S. purchase, framing the Tomahawk deal as a complement rather than a substitute.

The arrangement deepens U.S.-German defense cooperation at a sensitive moment for NATO deterrence, while also feeding broader European questions about dependence on American weapons versus building more indigenous systems.

What comes next

The main near-term question is how much Germany will buy and when the weapons could be delivered. Officials have not disclosed the number of missiles or launchers, the total cost, or the delivery timeline.

Watch also for U.S. statements on export approval, launcher supply, and training arrangements, as well as reactions from other NATO allies and from Russia.