German Chancellor says US will not station Tomahawk missiles in Germany

Defence affairs analysis - Def-Geopolitics

Germany confirms US will not currently deploy Tomahawk missiles, citing limited US stockpiles. Chancellor Friedrich Merz says NATO nuclear commitments remain unchanged despite troop and weapons adjustments.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that the United States will not station Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany for the time being, citing capacity constraints rather than political disagreements.

Speaking to ARD public broadcaster, Merz said the decision was driven by practical military limitations, not recent diplomatic tensions.

“The Americans don’t have enough for themselves right now. Objectively speaking, there is virtually no possibility of the US supplying weapons systems of this kind,” he said.

The missile deployment had originally been pledged under former US President Joe Biden in 2024 as part of broader efforts to strengthen NATO deterrence in Europe.

Troop withdrawal described as “not new”

Merz also addressed the planned reduction of more than 5,000 US troops in Germany, describing the move as “nothing new.”

He said the forces were initially deployed on a temporary basis and that their gradual withdrawal had already been under discussion during the previous US administration.

The comments come amid broader adjustments to US military posture in Europe as Washington reassesses global force distribution.

Despite the changes, Merz emphasized that there is no shift in US nuclear commitments within NATO.

“There are absolutely no compromises,” he said, stressing that US involvement in nuclear deterrence across the alliance remains fully in place.

He also reaffirmed that the United States remains Germany’s most important security partner within the North Atlantic Alliance.

The German chancellor rejected any connection between US military decisions and his recent criticism of Washington’s handling of the Iran conflict.

“There is no connection,” he said, adding that cooperation with US President Donald Trump remains ongoing despite political differences.

Merz’s remarks highlight a broader balancing act between maintaining NATO cohesion and managing evolving US strategic priorities in Europe.