US to Deploy Long-Range Weapons in Germany for First Time Since Cold War; Russia Promises 'Military Response'

In 2026, the United States will begin the deployment of "various" long-range weapons in Germany. This was stated in a joint announcement released on the White House website.

The long-range fire units will include SM-6 missiles, Tomahawk missiles, and the development of hypersonic weapons "with significantly greater range than current ground fire weapons in Europe."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has stated that Russian military officials have "already taken into account" Washington's messages. In his view, this constitutes "an escalation course, an element of intimidation that is nearly a fundamental component of NATO and the U.S. line directed at Russia today."

Ryabkov also mentioned that Russia will "without nerves, without emotions develop primarily a military response to this new game."

According to Kommersant, the U.S. has not deployed similar ground systems in Europe since the 1980s. Deutsche Welle highlights that for the first time since the Cold War, weapon systems capable of reaching Russian territory will be deployed on German soil.

As reported by Der Spiegel, negotiations over the deployment of American weapons have taken place between Washington and Berlin under conditions of secrecy in recent months. At the same time, the German authorities reportedly insisted that the American systems be located in Germany rather than in other European countries.

Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the agreement to place long-range systems in the country, noting that it means Germany itself must invest in such weaponry.