The United Kingdom is set to lead a new NATO initiative called the 'Deep Precision Strike Coalition,' aimed at developing advanced long-range missile systems as European allies seek to reduce dependence on American weapons amid growing pressure from former President Donald Trump. The coalition is expected to be announced at this week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Coalition Members and Objectives
Britain, Germany, Ukraine, France, and the Netherlands are among the countries involved in the coalition, which seeks to create a new European deep-strike capability. The project is one of several defence initiatives being explored as NATO members look for alternatives to relying heavily on US weapon systems. The move has gained momentum following Trump's decision to abandon a previous plan to deploy a US battalion equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany.
That deployment was intended as a short-term measure to give allies the ability to strike targets deep inside Russia while nations work on developing their own long-range weapons. Now, the new coalition will examine what type of missile system could be produced, with detailed specifications expected to be decided at a later stage.
Technical Specifications and Strategic Use
Weapons classified as deep precision strike systems are generally capable of accurately hitting targets between 1,000 km and 3,000 km away. Military planners envisage such weapons being used against targets including aircraft before they launch operations, missile facilities, and other strategic sites linked to an adversary's war effort.
Britain and Germany are expected to have a major influence on the project due to their existing collaboration on a ground-launched missile programme designed to reach targets more than 2,000 km away. The two countries are also involved in the European Long-Range Strike Approach, a separate effort alongside Italy, France, Poland, and Sweden to explore missiles with a range of different capabilities.
Wider Push for Independent Defence
The deep-strike coalition is part of a wider push to develop independent defence systems. Separate projects are also being considered to improve air defences and create NATO's own intelligence and reconnaissance satellite network. However, officials familiar with the discussions have warned that building a new missile system would be a long-term undertaking and could take many years before becoming operational. The abandoned Tomahawk deployment was intended to bridge the gap while countries developed their own capabilities.
NATO Summit and Defence Spending
The announcement comes as NATO leaders prepare to meet in Ankara for a two-day summit focused on the alliance's future security needs. Trump is expected to continue pressing allies to increase defence spending, while the Pentagon reviews the future size and role of US forces stationed in Europe. Washington has signalled that it wants allies to provide greater conventional defence support on the continent as the US focuses more attention on the Indo-Pacific region.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member states to arrive at the summit with 'clear, concrete and credible plans' to meet agreed defence targets. Last year, NATO's 32 members committed to raising defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, including 3.5 per cent for core military requirements and 1.5 per cent for wider security-related infrastructure. Asked what action would be taken against countries that failed to produce plans, Rutte said: 'If one or two of them still have to be convinced, we have ways to do that.'
