(NationalUSNews.com) — At the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., which occurred between July 9 and 11, four European nations signed an agreement to develop ground-launched cruise missiles with a range exceeding 310 miles.
On the final day of the summit, Italy, France, Poland, and Germany committed to this letter of intent, asserting that it addresses a shortfall in European arsenals revealed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated afterward that these new missiles are intended as deterrents.
The new missile development is perceived as a temporary solution until Europe can produce its own long-range missiles. Europe’s existing stock of cruise missiles includes some that require fighter jets for launch to achieve the distances that the new ground-launched missiles will cover. It is anticipated that a preliminary version of the weapon might be ready by the end of the year. Lecornu also mentioned that the new British Labor government would be welcome to join their initiative.
Since the onset of the Russian-Ukraine conflict in 2022, cruise missiles with several hundred-mile ranges have experienced a resurgence, with both parties employing them. Cruise missiles are often favored over ballistic missiles due to their lower flight paths, making them harder to detect with radar. During the summit, Germany and the U.S. announced that they would deploy U.S. long-range missiles on German soil by 2026. This deployment is expected to include Tomahawks, the SM-6, and developmental hypersonic weapons.
The agreement indicates a significant shift in modern warfare, effectively reintroducing a weapon category banned by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty of 1987 until 2019. The INF treaty prohibited nuclear and conventional ground-launched missiles with ranges between approximately 310 and 5,417 miles.
The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing complaints that Russia was already violating its terms. Russia denied these accusations and has also condemned the American and German plan to deploy U.S. long-range missiles on German soil, labeling it a serious threat to Russian national security.
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