US to Deploy Long-Range Missiles in Germany from 2026... Russia Warns of "Military Response"

The United States has decided to deploy long-range missiles in Germany starting in 2026. This move is intended to demonstrate the U.S.'s commitment to NATO and the defense of Europe. Russia immediately opposed the decision and began planning military responses.

On the 10th (local time), during the NATO summit, the U.S. and Germany issued a joint statement saying, "The United States will gradually deploy long-range firepower capabilities of the multi-domain task force (TF) starting in 2016," adding, "This will include SM-6 (ship-to-air missile), Tomahawk (cruise missile), and hypersonic weapons currently under development." They further explained, "The deployment of such advanced capabilities demonstrates the U.S.'s commitment to NATO and its dedication to integrated deterrence in Europe."

The SM-6 has a maximum range of 460 km, while the Tomahawk exceeds 1,500 km depending on the model. Ground-launched missiles with ranges over 500 km were banned until 2019 under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) signed between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union in 1987. The U.S. withdrew from the INF in 2019 during former President Trump's administration, citing Russian violations, which Russia denied while voluntarily suspending development of missiles banned by the INF. The deployment of U.S.-made long-range missiles in Germany signifies the effective loss of the arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia established at the end of the Cold War.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the deployment of U.S. long-range missiles on German soil, calling it a "timely and important decision." On the same day, Germany also signed a letter of intent in Washington D.C. with France, Italy, and Poland to jointly develop long-range missiles.

According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Germany's decision to host U.S.-made long-range missiles is a measure to buy time for developing its own new long-range missiles. The distance from Berlin, Germany to Moscow, Russia is approximately 1,600 km, while the range of long-range missiles currently possessed by Germany's Taurus and other European countries is around 500 km.

Russia condemned the announcement by the U.S. and Germany as an act that threatens its national security. According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated that Russia is preparing military plans in response. Peskov said, "We are taking one step closer to the Cold War," adding, "All elements of the Cold War such as confrontation and direct standoff are returning."

At the end of last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the U.S.'s moves to deploy medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and Asia necessitate Russia to resume production of ground-based medium- and short-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. He also warned that since the U.S. and Germany allowed Ukraine at the end of May to use their weapons to attack Russian territory for defensive purposes, Russia may deploy long-range missiles targeting Western countries in third countries.