 "Is the US deploying long-range missiles in Germany leading to a new Cold War-like confrontation with Russia?")
On the sidelines of the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) summit in Washington, the United States and Germany revealed that the US military would begin positioning SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as developmental hypersonic weapons, in Germany by 2026.
The decision, which involves the first such deployment since the 1980s, has sparked a heated debate among Nato allies, German politicians, and international security experts.
According to a joint statement, these deployments are part of a broader plan to eventually station these capabilities permanently. The missiles, which have significantly longer ranges than current land-based systems in Europe, are seen as a critical enhancement of Nato’s integrated deterrence capabilities.
“The United States will begin episodic deployments of the long-range fires capabilities of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026,” the statement by Washington & Berlin read. This deployment is intended to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to Nato and its contributions to European security.
How has Russia reacted?
The announcement has not been well-received in Moscow. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned of a “military response to the new threat,” describing the move as “just a link in the chain of a course of escalation.” He argued that Nato and the US are attempting to intimidate Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed these sentiments, stating, “This poses a very serious threat to our national security. All of this will necessitate thoughtful, coordinated, and effective responses from us to counter-deter Nato.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Tomahawk is a 5.6-metre (18.4-foot) long missile which has a range of up to approximately 2,400 km (about 1,500 miles) and can reach speeds of 885 km (550 miles) per hour.
How have German politicians reacted?
The decision to host US long-range missiles has elicited mixed reactions within Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the move as a necessary measure for deterrence and securing peace. “It’s something of deterrence and it’s securing peace, and it is a necessary and important decision at the right time,” Scholz stated.
However, the move has sparked significant controversy among German politicians. Members of Scholz’s ruling coalition, particularly from the Greens, criticised the lack of communication and clarity surrounding the decision.
Sara Nanni, the Greens’ spokeswoman on security, expressed frustration over the absence of detailed explanations. “It can even heighten fears and leaves room for disinformation and incitement,” she told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
Ralf Stegner, a Social Democrat, voiced concerns about triggering a new arms race, while far-left and far-right politicians cautioned that the deployment could turn Germany into a potential war zone. “This will not make the world safer. On the contrary, we are entering a spiral in which the world is becoming increasingly dangerous,” Stegner told the Funke media group.
How has the US justified the move?
In response, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed Russia’s concerns, stating that the deployment is purely defensive. “What we are deploying to Germany is a defence capability like many other defensive capabilities we’ve deployed across the alliance over the decades,” Sullivan stated.
“So more Russian saber-rattling obviously is not going to deter us from doing what we think is necessary to keep the alliance as strong as possible.”
Does international law allow this?
The planned missile deployment comes in the aftermath of the 2019 collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This landmark 1987 agreement between the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union had banned all nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles).
The treaty’s dissolution, triggered by mutual accusations of violations, removed more than 2,600 weapons from Europe.
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Former US President Donald Trump justified the withdrawal by accusing Russia of developing the 9M729 cruise missile in violation of the treaty, a claim Moscow denied.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a moratorium on deploying intermediate- and short-range ground-based missile systems if the US refrained from similar deployments in Europe or Asia. “If American-made medium- and shorter-range missiles appear somewhere, then we reserve the right to have a mirror response,” Putin stated last week at the SCO conference in Kazakhstan.
Are we looking at another arms race?
Security experts have expressed fears that the missile deployments could ignite a new arms race reminiscent of the 1980s.
Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists, wrote, “First Russia develops/fields an INF missile in violation of the treaty. Then the US withdraws from the treaty and deploys INF missiles as well. Then Russia will respond by deploying more INF missiles. Then … Does anyone have a plan here or is everyone on autopilot?”
First Russia develops/fields an INF missile in violation of treaty. Then US withdraws from treaty + deploys INF missiles as well. Then Russia will respond by deploying more INF missiles. Then…
— Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) July 11, 2024
Does anyone have a plan here or is everyone on auto pilot?https://t.co/UR3uhvUyLm
Joachim Krause, a political scientist and international policy expert, spoke to German public radio station Deutschlandfunk and suggested that the presence of these advanced missiles in Germany could act as a deterrent but also warned of the potential for significant escalation.
What else has Nato done to up the ante against Russia?
The Nato summit, which marked the alliance’s 75th anniversary, saw several significant announcements aimed at bolstering security in response to Russia’s actions. Among these were pledges to have donated F-16s operational over Ukraine by the summer and the establishment of additional facilities and logistics hubs in Europe, particularly in Black Sea cities.
The episodic deployment of US missiles is part of a broader Nato strategy to enhance its defensive capabilities in response to perceived Russian aggression. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the importance of addressing the “very serious gap” in Europe’s missile capabilities, noting that Germany currently lacks long-range ground-based missiles.
Speaking to Deutschlandfunk, Pistorius also stated the need for long-term investment in European missile capabilities, urging Nato allies to develop and procure their own systems. The European Long-Range Strike Approach (Elsa), a collaborative effort among France, Italy, Poland, and Germany, aims to bolster Europe’s missile defences.
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While the US and Nato view the deployment as a necessary measure for deterrence, Russia perceives it as a direct threat, potentially escalating tensions to Cold War levels.
With inputs from agencies
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