Relations between Germany and the United States are particularly tense following Friedrich Merz’s criticisms of the American strategy in the Middle East and Donald Trump’s announcement of the withdrawal of 5,000 troops stationed in the country. Will the United States sell their long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany? Berlin is pushing for Washington to authorize such an acquisition, along with Typhon launchers, according to the Financial Times. An initial purchase offer was submitted in July 2025 but Washington has not yet responded, according to the American newspaper.
To discuss this topic among others, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plans to visit the United States, on the condition of being able to meet with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth. An interview far from guaranteed, as relations between Berlin and Paris have deteriorated in recent days.
After announcing the departure of 5,000 American soldiers from Germany, Donald Trump warned on May 2 that he intended to further reduce the number of troops in the country in response to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s criticisms of the American strategy in the Middle East.
Under Joe Biden’s mandate, during NATO’s annual summit in the year 2024, the White House had announced the deployment to Germany, from 2026 onwards, of SM-6 surface-to-air missiles and Tomahawk missiles on a temporary basis. The goal was to deter Russia from attacking the Atlantic alliance. However, this project now seems obsolete, according to German authorities.
“We must consider this as a new call to develop our own capabilities more quickly and make them available. There are no other ways,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in early May.
The German army does not have long-range surface-launched missiles in its arsenal, like the Tomahawk. Nor does any other European country for that matter. The United Kingdom has Tomahawk missiles launched from submarines, with a range of 1,600 km. France, on the other hand, has a cruise missile called the Naval Cruise Missile (MdCN), developed by MBDA. Similar to the Tomahawk missile used by the UK and the US, this missile can be launched from frigates or nuclear attack submarines of the French Navy. Its range is estimated to be about 1,000 kilometers.
Tomahawk missiles have been heavily used by the American military in recent weeks to strike Iran. According to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CESI) published on April 21, over 850 were used to target the Mullah regime, roughly a third of the American stock. This is why the Pentagon has signed a contract with Raytheon, the manufacturer of this long-range missile, to increase its production and replenish its stocks.
/2026/05/11/6a021ff56d716442360509.jpg "The UN warns of a risk of massive food crisis if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues")
