In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the United States and Germany announced plans to start deploying long-range fire capabilities in Germany by 2026. This move underscores the US's commitment to NATO and European defense amid growing global tensions.
The upcoming deployments will include advanced systems such as the SM-6, Tomahawk missiles, and experimental hypersonic weapons, which surpass the current range capabilities present in Europe. These deployments are intended as preliminary steps before a more permanent stationing of long-range weaponry.
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| The US and Germany announce the deployment of long-range fire capabilities in Germany by 2026, signaling a major defense upgrade. |
This development comes after the United States' withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. The INF Treaty, originally signed in 1987 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan, had banned ground-based missiles with ranges exceeding 500 kilometers. The treaty was a significant milestone in arms control, marking the first time superpowers agreed to reduce nuclear arsenals and eliminate an entire category of weapons.
Following the treaty's signing, countries such as Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic dismantled their intermediate-range missiles, with Slovakia and Bulgaria following suit in the 1990s.
However, the US exited the INF Treaty in 2019, citing violations by Russia, specifically the development of the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, known to NATO as the SSC-8. Russia denied these allegations and later imposed a moratorium on the development of previously banned missile systems.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to resume production of intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles, accusing the US of breaching the INF Treaty by deploying similar missiles in Europe and Asia. Putin's comments highlight the escalating arms race and growing geopolitical tensions surrounding missile deployments.
The US's decision to deploy long-range weapons in Germany reflects a broader strategic effort to bolster European defense capabilities and respond to evolving global security dynamics.
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