Scholz: Europe faces threat from 'incredible arms build-up' by Russia

DPA:  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has justified the planned deployment of long-range US cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometres to German territory by pointing to the threat posed by Russia to European security.

"We know that there has been an incredible arms build-up in Russia, with weapons that threaten European territory," Scholz said on Thursday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington.

There had been lengthy discussions on how to respond with conventional deterrence in addition to the NATO nuclear umbrella. The deployment of long-range weapons had already been laid down a year ago in Germany's first National Security Strategy.

"That is why the United States' decision fits in perfectly with this strategy, which we have been discussing publicly for a long time."

For the first time since the Cold War, the United States is planning to station weapons systems in Germany that could reach far into Russia.

When asked whether he expected greater resistance to the return of such long-range weapons to Germany, including from within his own centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), Scholz said: "This decision has been a long time in the making and comes as no real surprise to anyone involved in security and peace policy."

Scholz and the White House agreed on the deployments on Wednesday. From 2026, Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and newly developed supersonic weapons will be deployed in Europe, with the stated goal of providing better protection for NATO allies.