In a stark warning reminiscent of Cold War-era tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned the United States against deploying long-range missiles in Germany, signaling that such actions would provoke Russia to station similar nuclear-capable missiles closer to Western borders. The warning comes amid escalating geopolitical friction between the two nuclear powers.
The United States and Germany announced earlier this month their plans for "episodic deployment" of long-range precision weapons in Germany starting in 2026. This move aims to reinforce NATO's and European defense capabilities. The planned deployments include SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as developmental hypersonic weapons, which boast significantly longer ranges than current land-based arsenals in Europe.
Addressing sailors from Russia, China, Algeria, and India during Russian Navy Day celebrations in St. Petersburg, Putin drew parallels between the current situation and the Cold War era. "The flight time to targets on our territory of such missiles, which in the future may be equipped with nuclear warheads, will be about 10 minutes," Putin warned. "We will take mirror measures to deploy, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world."
Putin also highlighted recent U.S. missile system transfers to Denmark and the Philippines, likening the situation to the deployment of Pershing II missiles in Western Europe in 1979. This move had sparked significant fear among Soviet leaders, who saw it as a potential strategy to decapitate Soviet political and military leadership.
The Russian president reiterated his earlier warnings that Moscow could resume production of intermediate and shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles if the U.S. proceeds with its missile deployments in Europe and Asia. "This situation is reminiscent of the events of the Cold War related to the deployment of American medium-range Pershing missiles in Europe," Putin remarked, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Washington formally exited the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in mid-2019, citing violations by Russia-a charge that Moscow has consistently denied. Since then, both nations have ceased adherence to the treaty's restrictions, which had banned nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges between 300 and 3,400 miles.
Earlier this year, the U.S. deployed the Mid-Range Capability missile system to the northern Philippines, which includes SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles. These deployments further fueled tensions, as Putin had previously indicated that such missile systems had also been used in Denmark for drills.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed concerns earlier this month about the re-emergence of Cold War dynamics. "All the attributes of the Cold War with the direct confrontation are returning," Peskov stated, reflecting the Kremlin's view on the escalating situation.
Putin's recent speech emphasized that Moscow is nearing the completion of developing these types of missile systems. "We will take measures in kind to deploy them, taking into account the moves by the United States and its minions in Europe and other regions of the world," he said. Putin's reference to "minions" underscores the Kremlin's view of NATO allies as complicit in U.S. strategies that threaten Russian security.
The deployment of U.S. missiles in Germany by 2026 would place critical Russian state and military command facilities, industrial centers, and defense infrastructure within striking range. "The fly-in time of such missiles that can be eventually equipped with nuclear warheads will constitute about 10 minutes to reach targets on our territory," Putin warned, highlighting the immediacy and severity of the threat perceived by Moscow.
