America's Plan to Deploy Long-Range Missiles in Germany Provokes Anger in Moscow

For the first time since the Cold War, the United States intends to deploy its long-range missiles on German soil. This move has sparked a new diplomatic struggle between Washington and Moscow and raised concerns about the onset of a new arms race. The announcement of the U.S. plan to deploy long-range missiles in Germany starting in 2026 has met with a strong reaction from Moscow. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister warned that Moscow would respond militarily to this action. This decision comes as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between Washington and Moscow has collapsed since 2019. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, has deemed this decision in line with his government's security strategy, but it has faced severe criticism and concerns regarding Germany's increased vulnerability to potential attacks. Scholz stated that this decision has been under consideration for a long time and is not surprising to those familiar with security and peace policies. In contrast, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, described this decision as a 'very serious threat' to Russia, stating that Moscow has analyzed it carefully and will take appropriate measures to counter NATO. Sergey Ryabkov, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, also accused NATO of escalating tensions, calling this action 'another link in the chain of escalation.' Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, characterized these missiles as having defensive capabilities and asserted that Russian threats would not hinder NATO unity. He emphasized that this action is aimed at strengthening NATO's defensive capabilities and that Russia's reaction would not affect U.S. decisions. Some members of the arms control community have also expressed concerns about the beginning of a new arms race. Meanwhile, Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, has called for an increase in the country's defense budget and emphasized the need for a long-term plan to invest in appropriate defense systems. Some German politicians believe this decision does not enhance national security and increases the risk of Germany becoming a battlefield. The agreement to deploy cruise missiles has faced strong opposition from many politicians in Germany, with some coalition government members calling for greater transparency on this issue. Critics argue that this action represents a significant setback in efforts to reduce global nuclear arsenals. According to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between Moscow and Washington, ground-launched missiles with ranges over 500 kilometers were prohibited until 2019.