According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Friday, June 05, 2026, the United States is reportedly preparing to cancel a planned deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, amid concerns that the move could provoke Russia and further strain depleted US missile stockpiles, according to Politico.

Citing US and European officials, the report said the decision to halt the deployment—initially agreed in 2024—reflects broader strategic reassessments beyond recent diplomatic tensions between Washington and Berlin. It noted that “US officials fear Moscow will retaliate if the Trump administration follows through on the effort to deploy precision missiles in the middle of the continent,” highlighting fears of direct escalation with Russia.

The report also highlighted growing concern within US defence circles over reduced missile inventories, which have been significantly depleted during ongoing military operations connected to the Iran conflict. Officials say these shortages are now influencing decisions on long-range weapons positioning in Europe.

The Trump administration had already signalled last month that the deployment plan was on hold following a public disagreement between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. Merz had criticised Trump’s handling of the conflict, saying it lacked a clear strategic direction.

Following the dispute, Trump announced the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany. Pentagon officials later confirmed that the long-range fires battalion, previously scheduled for deployment later this year, would not move forward.

The missile initiative was first announced in summer 2024 under an agreement between then German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then US President Joe Biden. The plan involved deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,600 kilometres, designed to counter Russia’s Iskander missile systems based in Kaliningrad, which can reach several Western European capitals within minutes.

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