Stationing of US weapons: Scholz on US missiles: It is about preventing war

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has dismissed fears that the planned stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany could lead to an escalation with Russia. The weapons, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, serve as a deterrent and should prevent attacks from a “safe hinterland” from the outset, said the SPD politician after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Berlin. “What we are always concerned about is preventing a war.”

The Chancellor again assured that Germany would manage its arms deliveries to Ukraine in such a way that they would not lead to a direct confrontation with Russia. “It is equally clear that the decisions we make here always have the security of our country and the alliance in mind. And that includes being sufficiently strong,” said Scholz. “That includes air defense and the possibility of deterrence, of course.”

On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington on Wednesday, it was announced that the USA plans to station weapons systems in Germany again from 2026 that extend as far as Russia. These will include Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometres, as well as SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons.

Russia reacted sharply to the announcement. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov spoke of a “link in the escalation course” of NATO and the USA towards Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said: “We are well on the way to a cold war. All of this has happened before.” He accused Germany, the USA, France and Great Britain of being directly involved in the conflict over Ukraine.