Germany Plans Fresh Push to Acquire Tomahawk Missiles

Germany is preparing a new effort to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States. Defence minister plans to visit Washington in the coming weeks to advance the acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter. The trip comes after Chancellor Friedrich Merz had a public disagreement with the U.S. president.

The defence minister's discussions are expected to focus on the technical and contractual details of acquiring the missiles, which have a range exceeding 1,000 miles and are launched from ships or aircraft. The current push seeks to equip German naval vessels with the capability as part of broader European defence coordination efforts.

Navy since the 1980s. It is designed for precision strikes against land targets and has been used in multiple conflicts. German officials have cited the need for enhanced long-range strike options to complement existing European arsenals. Previous attempts to secure U.S. approval for the sale encountered bureaucratic hurdles on both sides of the Atlantic.

The defence minister's upcoming meetings aim to address remaining questions about integration with German platforms and compliance with arms export regulations. The disagreement between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the U.S. president centered on defence spending commitments within NATO.

Despite the public exchange, German defence planning has continued to prioritize acquisition of additional standoff weapons.