Closing the deep-strike gap: Why Europe needs useful systems now
fanny.pollet@i…
Fri, 05/22/2026 – 12:17
5 minutes
The Trump administration has recently announced a series of measures to reduce America’s military posture in Europe. One of the less visible but potentially more consequential decisions was the cancellation of the planned deployment of a US long-range fires battalion to Germany in 2026. The battalion was supposed to bring long-range missiles to Europe, strengthening NATO’s ability to hold Russian military targets at risk far beyond the front line. It was also meant to buy time for Europeans to acquire their own long-range strike capabilities. The decision may yet be reversed, as has just happened with President Trump’s apparent U-turn on US troops in Poland. But Europe should act on the assumption that it will not be, and step up efforts to close the gap by acquiring long-range strike capabilities.The challengeThese capabilities are essential to European deterrence. They allow defenders to hold targets deep inside Russia, such as depots and bases, at risk, no matter how quickly …read more
