Germany has finalized a deal to purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, ensuring a significant transfer of public funds to American arms manufacturers. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the agreement Thursday, reached during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Merz informed the German parliament that this acquisition would “close an important strategic gap in our defense.” This statement frames the deal as a necessity for national security, obscuring the substantial financial gains for the U.S. military-industrial complex. The agreement also includes a commitment to develop Germany's “own European systems,” a reformist gesture that merely shifts the locus of arms production without challenging the underlying system of militarism.
Profits of War
The deal represents a broader export of U.S. military technology and know-how to European allies. President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. will also license Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems, further expanding the market for American military hardware. These transactions funnel wealth directly to corporations that profit from global conflict and the constant demand for advanced weaponry.
The Tomahawk cruise missile, a staple in the U.S. military’s inventory since the 1980s, is designed for striking targets deep inland or in hostile territory. It flies low, around 100 feet off the ground, making it difficult for defense systems to detect. With a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers, its precision guidance systems make it a preferred weapon for projecting power.
The State's Imperial Role
The agreement centers on a U.S. commitment to approve Germany’s procurement of an undisclosed number of Tomahawks and corresponding ground-based Typhoon launchers in August. This strategic move strengthens military alliances under the guise of mutual defense, while securing markets for U.S. arms manufacturers. The letter of intent, signed Tuesday, explicitly states that deployment of U.S. personnel to operate these systems is not part of the deal, allowing Germany to bear the operational costs and risks while remaining dependent on U.S. technology.
The stated justification for this increased militarization is the “security posture” that has been “upended by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.” This conflict, now in its fourth year, serves as a convenient pretext for escalating arms expenditures across NATO member states. Successive German governments have pursued such a deal since 2023, marking the third year of this procurement effort, demonstrating a consistent drive towards military expansion.
Perpetuating Conflict
The NATO summit itself, where this deal was struck, functions as a forum for coordinating imperial strategies and ensuring the continued flow of capital into the military sector. The acquisition of long-range missiles like the Tomahawk does not address the root causes of international instability; instead, it perpetuates a cycle of military buildup and the projection of power. This concentration of resources into instruments of war diverts funds that could otherwise address pressing social and economic needs, while enriching a select few in the arms industry.