Pentagon on Brink of Canceling Crucial Missile Sale to Germany Amid Rising Fears of Russian Retaliation and Escalation
To exit the menu, press the Escape key. This decision is a component of a more extensive withdrawal by the United States from the NATO alliance. On March 1, 2026, during the Iran war, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner launched a Tomahawk missile at sea, as seen in a photo released by the US Navy via Getty Images.
The Pentagon is anticipated to cancel its plan to send Tomahawk missiles to Germany, partly due to concerns among officials that Russia will perceive this action as an escalation, marking a startling reversal of a long-planned agreement with one of America's most significant allies. According to two European officials and one American official, U.S. officials are concerned that Moscow will retaliate if the Trump administration proceeds with the effort to deploy precision missiles in the middle of the continent. However, any decision not to deliver these missiles would undermine a deal made during the Biden administration, leaving Berlin without the defenses that German leaders claim they desperately need. This move is part of a broader American retrenchment from the NATO alliance, including the cancellation of deployments of thousands of U.S. troops to Germany and plans to withdraw certain assets, as the U.S. upends the close-knit partnerships that have cemented the relationship for generations. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top commander and the head of U.S. forces in Europe, told military leaders this week that Europe "can step up now and in the near term," and that America will "refocus" its equipment and forces elsewhere.
American officials, while primarily fearful of Russia's reaction, are likely also concerned about the dwindling U.S. weapons stockpile. In the first weeks of the Iran war, the U.S. expended thousands of Tomahawk and Patriot missiles. Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress that it will take "months and years" to replenish the munitions spent in the military conflict. The likely reversal of the Tomahawk decision is particularly unsettling for German officials, who are rushing to modernize their atrophied military to serve as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that he did not expect the U.S. to station Tomahawk missiles in Germany due to the limited availability of these cruise missiles, which can travel over 1,000 miles. "The Americans don't have enough for themselves right now," he said in an interview with German public television.
The U.S. unveiled further changes to its role in NATO this week at a quarterly conference of military leaders, including reductions in fighter jets, drones, and naval units, according to a report by WELT, part of the Alex Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes POLITICO. A Defense Department official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations, stated that "the whole point is to give allies the information and clarity they need to drive forward as quickly and effectively as possible," emphasizing that this is about "allies taking primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense." The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.
Berlin has been particularly affected by the reduction in military presence, with the city feeling the impact of the withdrawal of troops. This spring, the Pentagon made the significant decision to cancel the deployment of 5,000 U.S. troops to Germany, a move that caught European officials and GOP defense hawks off guard. The decision to reduce troop levels to what they were before the Ukraine war was made after Friedrich Merz criticized President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war, stating that he had "humiliated" himself. The Pentagon has yet to release a plan for the troops that were supposed to be deployed to Germany, and it is unclear whether they will be sent to another location in Europe, according to two American defense officials. The U.S. may be concerned about the threat posed by Moscow, but Germany and the rest of Europe are faced with the reality of an all-out war between Russia and Ukraine on their doorstep, which is a much more pressing concern. For years, Russian forces have been deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to the Kaliningrad exclave, which is located between Poland and Lithuania, and they have also placed medium-range Oreshnik missiles in Belarus, which can reach all of Europe in a matter of minutes. Officials from Eastern and Central Europe have been watching these developments with caution, as they are still in the process of developing their own comparable military systems.
In a recent interview with German public television, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed his frustration with the delay in acquiring Tomahawk missiles from the U.S., stating that "we submitted an official request to the Americans a year and a half ago to import - that is, to purchase - Tomahawk missiles, and we are still awaiting a response." Pistorius added that, given the current state of the world, he does not have much hope that the request will be approved. During a visit to Washington last July, Pistorius expressed interest in purchasing America's Typhon ground-based missile system, which launches Tomahawk missiles, but he has not received an update on the status of the request, according to the German defense ministry. German officials have been exploring alternative options within Europe to fill the gap in long-range precision-strike capabilities. The debate in Berlin is not focused on a specific weapons system, but rather on how quickly Germany can acquire the ability to hold targets at a distance, whether through off-the-shelf purchases, expanded production with allies, or longer-term European development. While drones and other cheaper systems may provide some assistance, German defense planners do not see them as a direct replacement for Tomahawk-class missiles. German officials are concerned that the U.S. withdrawal will force Europe to close military gaps more quickly than its defense industry can deliver, which could have significant consequences for the region's security. The reduction in U.S. military presence in Europe has significant implications for the region's defense industry and its ability to respond to emerging threats.
The Pentagon is anticipated to cancel its plan to send Tomahawk missiles to Germany, partly due to concerns among officials that Russia will perceive this action as an escalation, marking a startling reversal of a long-planned agreement with one of America's most significant allies. According to two European officials and one American official, U.S. officials are concerned that Moscow will retaliate if the Trump administration proceeds with the effort to deploy precision missiles in the middle of the continent. However, any decision not to deliver these missiles would undermine a deal made during the Biden administration, leaving Berlin without the defenses that German leaders claim they desperately need. This move is part of a broader American retrenchment from the NATO alliance, including the cancellation of deployments of thousands of U.S. troops to Germany and plans to withdraw certain assets, as the U.S. upends the close-knit partnerships that have cemented the relationship for generations. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top commander and the head of U.S. forces in Europe, told military leaders this week that Europe "can step up now and in the near term," and that America will "refocus" its equipment and forces elsewhere.
American officials, while primarily fearful of Russia's reaction, are likely also concerned about the dwindling U.S. weapons stockpile. In the first weeks of the Iran war, the U.S. expended thousands of Tomahawk and Patriot missiles. Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress that it will take "months and years" to replenish the munitions spent in the military conflict. The likely reversal of the Tomahawk decision is particularly unsettling for German officials, who are rushing to modernize their atrophied military to serve as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that he did not expect the U.S. to station Tomahawk missiles in Germany due to the limited availability of these cruise missiles, which can travel over 1,000 miles. "The Americans don't have enough for themselves right now," he said in an interview with German public television.
The U.S. unveiled further changes to its role in NATO this week at a quarterly conference of military leaders, including reductions in fighter jets, drones, and naval units, according to a report by WELT, part of the Alex Springer Global Reporters Network, which includes POLITICO. A Defense Department official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations, stated that "the whole point is to give allies the information and clarity they need to drive forward as quickly and effectively as possible," emphasizing that this is about "allies taking primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense." The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.
Berlin has been particularly affected by the reduction in military presence, with the city feeling the impact of the withdrawal of troops. This spring, the Pentagon made the significant decision to cancel the deployment of 5,000 U.S. troops to Germany, a move that caught European officials and GOP defense hawks off guard. The decision to reduce troop levels to what they were before the Ukraine war was made after Friedrich Merz criticized President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war, stating that he had "humiliated" himself. The Pentagon has yet to release a plan for the troops that were supposed to be deployed to Germany, and it is unclear whether they will be sent to another location in Europe, according to two American defense officials. The U.S. may be concerned about the threat posed by Moscow, but Germany and the rest of Europe are faced with the reality of an all-out war between Russia and Ukraine on their doorstep, which is a much more pressing concern. For years, Russian forces have been deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles to the Kaliningrad exclave, which is located between Poland and Lithuania, and they have also placed medium-range Oreshnik missiles in Belarus, which can reach all of Europe in a matter of minutes. Officials from Eastern and Central Europe have been watching these developments with caution, as they are still in the process of developing their own comparable military systems.
In a recent interview with German public television, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed his frustration with the delay in acquiring Tomahawk missiles from the U.S., stating that "we submitted an official request to the Americans a year and a half ago to import - that is, to purchase - Tomahawk missiles, and we are still awaiting a response." Pistorius added that, given the current state of the world, he does not have much hope that the request will be approved. During a visit to Washington last July, Pistorius expressed interest in purchasing America's Typhon ground-based missile system, which launches Tomahawk missiles, but he has not received an update on the status of the request, according to the German defense ministry. German officials have been exploring alternative options within Europe to fill the gap in long-range precision-strike capabilities. The debate in Berlin is not focused on a specific weapons system, but rather on how quickly Germany can acquire the ability to hold targets at a distance, whether through off-the-shelf purchases, expanded production with allies, or longer-term European development. While drones and other cheaper systems may provide some assistance, German defense planners do not see them as a direct replacement for Tomahawk-class missiles. German officials are concerned that the U.S. withdrawal will force Europe to close military gaps more quickly than its defense industry can deliver, which could have significant consequences for the region's security. The reduction in U.S. military presence in Europe has significant implications for the region's defense industry and its ability to respond to emerging threats.
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