The U.S. Deploys Long-Range Weapons in Germany to Demonstrate Commitment to NATO and European Defense

On Wednesday, July 20, the United States and Germany announced in a joint statement that the U.S. will begin deploying its long-range weapons in Germany in 2026 to demonstrate its commitment to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and to defend Europe. According to Reuters, the statement mentioned that this action includes Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 missiles, and hypersonic weapons, which have a greater range than existing weapons in Europe. Earlier, Chuck Schumer, the majority leader of the U.S. Senate, warned on Tuesday, July 19, that Western democracy is likely facing the most serious threat since the Cold War due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing that the United States will never abandon NATO. Additionally, Vladimir Putin had stated on June 21 that Moscow is considering a possible change in its nuclear weapons usage doctrine. The current Russian doctrine regarding the use of nuclear weapons states that Moscow may use such weapons in response to a nuclear attack or in the event of a conventional attack that poses an existential threat to the country. During the 75th anniversary speech of NATO, U.S. President Joe Biden assured that Ukraine will stop Putin. Concurrently, at the NATO summit in Washington, leaders from the U.S. and four other countries emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities. A senior NATO official noted that Russia is facing shortages of ammunition and troops for a large-scale invasion in Ukraine.