NATO summit 2026: US agrees to German procurement and stationing of Tomahawk cruise missiles

Germany plans to procure the Typhon ground-based launcher (pictured) and Tomahawk cruise missile. (US Army)

The US agreed on the fringes of the 7-8 July 2026 NATO summit in Ankara to the German procurement and stationing of Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, on 9 July. He said this would close a major strategic gap in Germany's defences as the country works on the development of European systems to be based on the continent.

Also on 9 July, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on WhatsApp that the procurement would include Typhon ground-based launchers for the Tomahawks. He noted that Germany and its European partners and allies were developing a European deep precision strike capability, including cruise missiles and hypersonic gliders, and would procure long-range unmanned aerial vehicles available on the market.

Pistorius said, “The USA possesses key capabilities that we in Europe cannot do without. While we will increase production capacities in Europe on the one hand, we will continue to procure certain military weapon systems and components from the USA on the other. This is the only way we can achieve the capability build-up we have pledged to NATO. This applies particularly to the offensive capabilities we need for deterrence - and for use in the event of an attack on NATO territory, which we are striving to prevent.”

Under the October 2024 Trinity House agreement, Germany and the UK are working on a deep precision strike programme to accelerate the development of both stealth and hypersonic weapons with a range over 2,000 km expected to enter service in the 2030s. The programme is initially focused on ground-launched capabilities but will also explore air and naval capabilities.

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