Germany has resumed efforts to negotiate with the United States over the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles after the Pentagon abandoned plans to deploy a U.S. battalion equipped with the weapons in the country. The Financial Times reports this citing sources.
According to the newspaper, Berlin believes Washington’s decision has created an additional gap in Europe’s deterrence posture against Russia.
As the FT reports, Germany hopes to persuade the Donald Trump administration to approve the sale of Tomahawk missiles together with Typhon ground launch systems.
One of the newspaper’s sources said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is preparing a visit to Washington to once again raise the issue of long-range weapons deliveries. Germany first submitted the request in July last year, but the United States has yet to provide an official response.
However, the trip depends on whether a meeting between Pistorius and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth can be arranged. The Financial Times notes that this is “far from guaranteed” amid deteriorating relations between Donald Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz over disagreements surrounding the war with Iran.
According to one FT source, Berlin may also be prepared to offer a higher price in order to improve the chances of securing approval for the deal.