Germany's defence ministry said the U.S. has not given a "definitive cancellation" of a plan to station a battalion equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany. The comment followed Washington's announcement of a 5,000-soldier drawdown, which many read as signaling a potential cancellation. Berlin stressed the deployment could still happen and that European procurement plans aim to plug any capability gap. Officials said discussions remain ongoing amid wider transatlantic tensions.
Germany Says U.S. Has Not Definitively Canceled Plan To Station Tomahawk Missiles
U.S. aircrafts are parked on the tarmac at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, Germany, May 2, 2026. REUTERS/Frank Simon
BERLIN, May 4 — Germany's defence ministry said on Monday that the United States has not issued a "definitive cancellation" of a Biden-era plan to station a battalion armed with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany.
The statement followed Washington's announcement last week that it will reduce its troop presence in Germany by 5,000 soldiers — a move many observers interpreted as including the planned weapons deployment. The Pentagon said the drawdown affects its largest European base and came amid growing tensions with Europe over the war in Iran and disputes on tariffs.
"We're not talking about a definitive cancellation," a defence ministry spokesperson said, adding that the weapons were "meant to be stationed (in Germany) and may well still be."
The spokesperson also noted that European countries already have plans to procure long-range systems that could fill any capability gap if the U.S. deployment does not go ahead. Supporters of the Tomahawk plan say the battalion would have added a significant deterrent against Russia while Europeans develop their own long-range strike capabilities.
Officials in Berlin stressed that discussions are ongoing and that European procurement efforts could reduce reliance on U.S. deployments over time. The defence ministry's remark leaves open the possibility the Tomahawk deployment could still proceed or be replaced by allied systems.
(Reporting by Friederike Heine; Editing by Miranda Murray)
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