The Pentagon is expected to cancel a plan to send Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, citing fears that Russia would interpret the deployment as an escalation in Europe. The move would reverse a long-planned agreement reached during the Biden administration and leave German officials without a capability they have described as essential for defense against potential Russian threats.

U.S. officials worry that proceeding with the transfer could prompt retaliation from Moscow, according to two European officials and one American official familiar with the deliberations. The decision forms part of a broader pattern of American adjustments to its military posture on the continent under the current administration.

German leaders have pushed for the missiles to bolster their forces as they seek to rebuild capabilities strained by years of underinvestment. The cancellation would remove a key element of planned long-range strike options that Berlin viewed as critical to deterring aggression.

Reports of the expected reversal emerged Thursday from multiple outlets citing the same sources. The original agreement aimed to strengthen NATO's conventional deterrence in the region through precision-guided systems.

No official confirmation has come from the Pentagon or the White House as of Thursday evening. European capitals are monitoring the development closely given its implications for alliance planning and national defense strategies.