Scholz says US missiles in Germany will help in 'preventing a war'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday again rejected fears that the planned stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany could lead to an escalation with Russia.

The weapons are intended as a deterrent, Scholz said after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Berlin.

"What we are always concerned with is preventing a war," Scholz said.

Earlier this week, Germany and the US announced an agreement to station long-range US missiles on Germany territory beginning in 2026, the first time such weapons have been stationed in Germany since the end of the Cold War.

The US weapons are to include Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometres capable of striking deep into Russia, as well as SM-6 air defence missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons.

The chancellor on Friday again pledged that Germany would control its arms deliveries to Ukraine in such a way that they would not lead to a direct confrontation with Russia.

"It is just as clear that the decisions we make here always have the security of our country and the alliance in mind. And that includes ensuring that we are sufficiently strong," said Scholz. "This includes air defence and the possibility of deterrence, of course."

Russian officials have reacted harshly to the announcement, accusing Germany and the United States of driving up tensions and pushing toward an arms race.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov spoke of a "chain link in the escalation course" of NATO and the US towards Russia, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that his country and NATO "are well on the way to a Cold War."