Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concerns over the United States' and Germany's decision to deploy US long-range missiles in Germany starting in 2026. Putin stated that this move is reminiscent of events from the Cold War era and could prompt Russia to station similar missiles in response.
Putin made these remarks during Russia's annual Navy Day in St. Petersburg, emphasizing that the deployment of these missiles could put Russian infrastructure at risk. He mentioned the historical deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe during the 1980s and how they were later withdrawn with the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in 1988.
The US and Germany have announced plans to deploy long-range missile capabilities, including SM-6, Tomahawk, and hypersonic weapons, which have longer ranges than current land-based fires in Europe. This decision has raised tensions with Russia, which has threatened to end its moratorium on deploying medium and shorter-range strike weapons.
Russia's development of such weapons is reportedly in its final stages, and Putin stated that Russia would take reciprocal measures to deploy them if necessary. The INF Treaty, which banned certain missiles and was a key element of European security during the Cold War, was abandoned by both the US and Russia in recent years.
The situation has sparked concerns of a potential arms race, with both sides expressing willingness to deploy advanced missile systems. The future implications of these developments remain uncertain, as diplomatic tensions continue to rise between the involved parties.
