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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
Jan van der Made

As Germany cuts a deal on US missiles, Europe weighs up dependence on Washington

Germany is set to buy Tomahawk missiles from the United States. Here, an Australian naval ship fires a Tomahawk Weapon System off the west coast of the US.
Germany is set to buy Tomahawk missiles from the United States. Here, an Australian naval ship fires a Tomahawk Weapon System off the west coast of the US. © AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE / AFP

Germany is set to buy Tomahawk missiles to plug an urgent gap in its defence, in spite of a European Union drive to lessen dependence on American weapon systems. The deal comes after a Franco-German tank maker's stock market listing stalled and a flagship European fighter jet project collapsed. Can Europe really arm itself, or is autonomy a pipe dream?

Hours after this week’s NATO summit came to a close in Ankara, Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, that the country has agreed a deal with Washington to buy American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and station them on German soil.

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