US To Deploy Controversial Typhon Missile System To Japan For First Time

The US Army is deploying the Typhon missile system to Japan for drills in September. This controversial weapon, also known as Mid-Range Capability, can fire nuclear-capable Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. Russia and China have strongly condemned this deployment, as the Typhon would have been banned under the former INF Treaty. The system's location in Japan places mainland China and parts of eastern Russia within its potential range. Russia views the deployment as a destabilizing step that poses a direct strategic threat to its security. China urged Japan to act prudently and refrain from further alienating its neighbors. The Typhon system deployed to the Philippines in April remains in the country, indicating potential for further long-term deployments. Russia has also ended its moratorium on deploying missiles previously banned by the INF Treaty. The US has previously deployed Typhons for drills in Denmark and plans a long-term deployment in Germany by 2026. This move signifies an escalation in missile capabilities and regional tensions.