NATO must expand its stockpile of long range missiles to deter potential Russian aggression in Europe, a senior US Army general has said, citing Moscow’s ongoing efforts to boost its missile production.
Major General John Rafferty told Reuters that Russia’s effective use of long range missiles during its war in Ukraine had demonstrated the weapons’ strategic value in targeting key military infrastructure, including command posts, transport hubs, and launch sites deep behind enemy lines.
“The Russian army is bigger today than it was when they started the war in Ukraine,” Rafferty said during an interview at a US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany. “And we know that they’re going to continue to invest in long range rockets and missiles and sophisticated air defences. So more alliance capability is really, really important.”
The ongoing war in Ukraine has exposed Europe’s heavy reliance on the US for long range missile systems, especially as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its air defences amid sustained Russian bombardments.
Rafferty, who recently concluded his role as commander of the US Army’s 56th Artillery Command in Mainz-Kastel, Germany, noted that preparations are underway for the temporary deployment of US long range missiles on European soil starting in 2026.
At an upcoming meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is expected to seek clarification on whether the planned missile deployments—initially agreed under former President Joe Biden—will proceed now that Donald Trump is back in office.
The agreement outlines the deployment of systems such as Tomahawk missiles, capable of reaching targets up to 1,800 kilometres away, and the advanced hypersonic Dark Eagle, with a range of approximately 3,000 kilometres.
Russia has condemned the planned deployment of US long range missiles in Germany, calling it a serious threat to its national security. Moscow has rejected NATO’s concerns over a possible Russian strike on alliance members and has pointed to NATO’s expansion as a justification for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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