German Finance Minister Christian Lindner explained the planned deployment of American long-range missiles in Germany with the need to maintain a balance in containing Russia. He made this statement in an interview with media group Funke.
„Germany has long been within range of Russian missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Therefore, it is extremely important for us to restore the balance of deterrence,”, said the German minister. “The planned deployment of intermediate-range missiles is an important contribution to this effort,” he said.
On July 10, the press service of the White House announced that the United States will begin deploying in 2026 on the territory of Germany new firearms with more a long range of those currently deployed in Europe. Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said the plans raise the possibility of a missile arms race and could lead to an uncontrollable escalation.
On July 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin, hosting the main naval parade in St. Petersburg, warned Washington that Moscow would stop implementing a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of medium- and shorter-range strike weapons in the event of the appearance of American long-range missiles in Germany. As German cabinet minister Christiane Hoffmann said at a briefing, her country's government has taken the Russian leader's statement into account.