SPD proposes European alternatives to US Tomahawk missiles after US withdrawal plans

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has called for deeper European defense cooperation after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of more than 5,000 troops from Germany and the suspension of a planned deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, agreed in 2024 by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then-President Joe Biden.

SPD deputy parliamentary leader Siemtje Möller said the U.S. moves would be "extremely concerning" if implemented. "Should President Trump carry out his announcements to withdraw troops and not station the agreed medium-range missiles, this would be extremely concerning," Möller said. She urged Germany to consult urgently with France and Britain in the E3 format to determine "how the emerging defense policy gap can be closed."

Trump plans to withdraw more than 5,000 of the nearly 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany. The U.S. has also suspended the 2024 agreement to station Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany, a deployment that was intended as a pillar of European deterrence. Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed on Sunday that the Tomahawks will not be stationed in Germany for now, citing U.S. needs in the war against Iran.

The U.S. has used more than 850 Tomahawk missiles in combat against Iran, about one-fifth to one-quarter of its estimated stockpile. Replacing those missiles could take the U.S. defense industry up to six years, according to reports.

Britain also operates Tomahawk missiles. Germany's longest-range missile is the Taurus, with a 500 km range, while Tomahawks have a range of 1,600 to 2,500 km depending on variant. Germany plans to buy Tomahawk missiles and the Typhon launch system for sea and land use.

Germany, France, Britain and others announced in 2024 plans to develop European long-range strike weapons under the ELSA program (European Long-Range Strike Approach). Germany and Britain aim to develop a missile with a range of over 2,000 km, but the type, range, warhead, and production start remain unclear. Experts estimate European alternatives to U.S. long-range weapons will not be operational until the 2030s.

Germany's new military strategy, presented in April, lists "deep precision strikes" as one of six national capability goals. The publicly available section of the strategy includes "effect at a distance and defense against threats from the air" among the six "National Capability Goals."

Möller accused Trump of endangering the transatlantic partnership with "erratic policies" and making "the security of hundreds of millions of people a plaything of his whims." She said Europeans must "confidently make clear that the security of Europe is of elementary interest for the USA and can only be guaranteed through a resilient transatlantic partnership."