Germany has reached an agreement with the United States to acquire Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles for deployment on German territory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Thursday, describing the move as a key step in closing a strategic gap in the country’s defense capabilities.

Speaking before the Bundestag, Merz said the agreement was finalized on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, held on July 7-8.

“We have also agreed with the US government on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Ankara that we will acquire American Tomahawk missiles and station them in Germany,” Merz said. “In doing so, we are closing an important strategic gap in our defence.”

Merz added that Germany would continue working with European partners to develop indigenous long-range strike systems while pursuing the U.S. acquisition as an immediate capability.

“We will also work to develop our own European systems and station them in Europe,” he said.

The announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon a 2024 plan, agreed under former President Joe Biden, to deploy U.S.-owned Tomahawk missiles in Germany by 2026. In response, Berlin sought to purchase the missiles directly from Washington.

The Tomahawk cruise missile has a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, enabling strikes against targets deep inside hostile territory.