Photo by Handout / AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE / AFP
Germany is reportedly negotiating with the United States to reach an agreement on producing PAC-3 Patriot missiles domestically ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.
The Financial Times (FT), citing “people familiar with the matter,” said the talks form part of a wider push from Berlin to stabilize ties with US President Donald Trump.
One person described the deal as focused on “joint production concepts,” while another source said it covers “anything” that could bolster bilateral defense, including PAC-3 Patriot and Tomahawk cruise missiles, News.Az reports, citing Kyiv Post.
A third source told the FT that the US’s response has been more positive than initially expected.
According to the report, Berlin hopes to cash in on Washington’s warming attitude towards Ukraine and Europe in recent weeks, with the goal of advancing defense deals during the Ankara NATO summit slated for July 7-8.
Demand for Patriot missiles has surged since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Kyiv having proven the missiles’ effectiveness at countering Russian ballistic missiles.
Demand increased further following the recent US military campaign against Iran, which depleted much of its stockpile. Despite their need, Patriots remain in short supply due to production backlogs.
Currently, the PAC-3 missiles are only made in the US and under license in Japan, with Germany producing the older PAC-2 variants domestically – some destined for Ukraine starting in 2027 under a €4 billion ($4.7 billion) deal signed in April.
German officials, according to the FT, argued that the deal could offer a win-win solution for Europe and the US by helping restore Washington’s stockpile while simultaneously helping Europe rearm in light of potential threats from Moscow.