German minister hails importance of public debate on US weapons deployment

Germany's Defence Minister and member of the Social Democratic Party Boris Pistorius has called for public discussions on the potential deployment of US missiles on the German territory.   

Pistorius emphasised in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (German newspaper) that the debate on hosting long-range US weapons is not indicative of sharp opposition within the Social Democratic Party, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.  

"It is crucial that we, as a society, weigh all arguments and find a position that we can all accept," he said.

Pistorius highlighted the need for these discussions to clarify the situation.

"On one hand, Russia's aggressive behavior presents a new threat to Europe. On the other hand, we face a capability gap that can only be temporarily addressed through our alliance with the US until we develop our own capabilities," he added.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has stated that the planned deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany is essential for maintaining a balance of power in deterring Russia. He reminded that Germany has long been within the range of Russian missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Therefore, it is crucial for Berlin to "restore the balance of deterrence." The deployment of the US missiles is a significant contribution to these efforts.

On the sidelines of July's NATO summit, Berlin and Washington announced plans to deploy US Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of reaching deep into Russia, as well as SM-6 air-defense missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons to Germany starting in 2026.