U.S. to Deploy Long-Range Fire Capabilities in Germany by 2026

The United States plans to deploy long-range fire capabilities, including SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons, in Germany by 2026 to demonstrate its commitment to NATO and European defense. This move follows the U.S.' withdrawal from the INF Treaty in 2019, citing Russia's violations.

The United States will start deploying long-range fire capabilities in Germany by 2026 as a sign of its commitment to NATO and European defense, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday.

These episodic deployments are intended as a precursor to longer-term stationing of advanced weaponry such as SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and developmental hypersonic weapons, surpassing currently available capabilities in Europe. Previously, ground-based missiles with ranges over 500 kilometers were banned until 2019 under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union and the U.S. in 1987.

This treaty marked the first substantial reduction in nuclear arsenals by the two superpowers. In the 1990s, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic destroyed their missiles, followed later by Slovakia and Bulgaria.

The U.S. exited the INF Treaty in 2019, accusing Russia of non-compliance due to its development of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, known in NATO circles as the SSC-8. Russia denied these allegations and later imposed its own moratorium on developing similar missile systems.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled Russia might resume production of intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles after the U.S. reintroduced similar missiles to Europe and Asia. Though Russia had vowed not to deploy such weapons, Putin cited U.S. actions, including positioning missiles in Denmark and the Philippines, as a prompt for reconsideration.

(With inputs from agencies.)