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ConflictNATO's Rutte praises German purchase of US Tomahawk missiles, calls it purely defensive
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Germany's planned purchase of US Tomahawk cruise missiles as 'excellent news,' emphasizing that the deployment is solely for credible deterrence and not escalation against Russia. The deal was announced at the NATO summit in Ankara, following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz securing approval from US President Donald Trump. The Tomahawk missiles have a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers, significantly surpassing Germany's current Taurus system (500 km range). Rutte stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance and will never attack anyone. The Typhon launch systems will be part of collective NATO deterrence. The number of systems and purchase price remain undisclosed. The Trump administration does not consider itself bound by a previous Biden-era plan for US stationing of similar weapons in Germany.
Source report
Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit in Ankara | Source: Getty Images / Burak Kara
ANKARA — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed concerns that Germany's planned purchase of U.S. intermediate-range Tomahawk missiles will increase the risk of escalation with Russia, emphasizing that the weapons are intended solely for credible deterrence.
"We are a defensive alliance. That means we will never attack anyone," Rutte told the German Press Agency (dpa) in an interview. He stressed that the stationing of Tomahawks in Germany is about ensuring the alliance can defend itself if necessary.
Deal Announced at NATO Summit
Germany's plans to acquire the Tomahawk cruise missiles were announced last week, shortly after the NATO summit in Ankara. Chancellor Friedrich Merz secured a commitment from U.S. President Donald Trump to grant official approval for the sale of the missiles and Typhon launch systems.
Rutte described the development as "excellent news," stating that it "brings an additional layer of confidence in our collective deterrence and defense capability."
Capabilities and Strategic Significance
According to the Bundeswehr, the Typhon missile system can fire Tomahawks with a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers — significantly surpassing all currently available systems in Europe.
By comparison, the Bundeswehr's existing Taurus cruise missile has a range of only about 500 kilometers. The Tomahawk's extended reach allows for precision strikes against targets deep in an enemy's hinterland, including:
- Command facilities
- Military airfields
- Launch ramps for long-range missiles
Secrecy Around Numbers and Cost
Originally, the United States had planned to station Tomahawks, SM-6 missiles, and newly developed hypersonic weapons in Germany itself. However, the Trump administration does not consider itself bound by that earlier announcement, made at the 2024 NATO summit by the then-government of President Joe Biden.
The number of weapon systems Germany is purchasing from the U.S., as well as the price, remain classified.
Reporting by dpa/saha
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