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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with European allies, threatening to pull U.S. troops from Italy and Spain after already announcing a review of troop levels in Germany, as transatlantic tensions over the Iran war reach a breaking point.
Asked by a reporter on Thursday whether he would consider withdrawing American forces from Italy and Spain, Trump responded: “Yeah, probably. Why shouldn’t I?”
“I mean, look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office . “We have to remember that. When we needed them, they were not there” .
The threat marks a dramatic escalation in the diplomatic fallout over Trump’s war with Iran, now in its third month.
📊 US Forces in Europe by the Numbers
The potential pullout would affect tens of thousands of American troops stationed at key strategic bases across the continent.
| Country | Active-Duty US Personnel (Dec 2025) | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 36,436 | Ramstein Air Base, US European Command (EUCOM) headquarters |
| Italy | 12,662 | NAS Sigonella, Aviano Air Base, US Navy 6th Fleet headquarters |
| Spain | 3,814 | Naval Station Rota (homeport for 4 US Navy destroyers) |
Source: US Defense Manpower Data Center
Trump first announced Wednesday night on Truth Social that the US was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period” . Within 24 hours, he had extended the threat to the two other European NATO members .
⚔️ The Grievances: Why Trump Is Threatening Europe
Trump’s anger stems from European refusal to join the US-Israeli war effort against Iran, which began with joint strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on February 28 .
Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of the US campaign. Madrid has barred the US military from using its airspace and the two American bases on Spanish territory for operations supporting strikes on Iran .
Italy, despite Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s previously close ties with Trump, has refused to participate in the war effort. The relationship soured after Meloni defended Pope Leo XIV against Trump’s attacks and criticized the US leader’s “unacceptable” comments . Italy also denied use of an airbase in Sicily for weapons shipments to Iran after the US bypassed required authorization procedures .
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz drew Trump’s wrath earlier this week when he said Washington was being “humiliated” by Iran and lacked an effective strategy to end the war . Trump responded by calling Merz’s comments “nonsense” and telling the German leader to focus on his “broken Country” .
🇪🇺 European Responses: “We Do Not Understand”
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who just weeks ago announced the transfer of a second air defense battery to protect US assets in the region, said Friday that he “doesn’t understand the reasons” behind Trump’s threats .
“As is clear to everyone, we didn’t use the Strait of Hormuz. And we also made ourselves available for a mission to protect shipping. This was greatly appreciated by the American military,” Crosetto told Italy’s ANSA news agency .
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul indicated that Berlin is preparing for a potential reduction in US forces. “We are prepared for that,” Wadephul said, adding that discussions are continuing within NATO “in a spirit of trust” .
Relations with Spain have deteriorated even further. Reports suggest Washington has even explored the feasibility of suspending Spain from NATO over its opposition to the war and its failure to meet defence spending targets .
🏛️ The Congressional Block: Can Trump Actually Do This?
Despite Trump’s bravado, pulling US troops from Europe faces significant legal hurdles.
Current US law sets a minimum of 76,000 troops permanently stationed or deployed in Europe . Trump’s previous attempt to remove forces from Germany in 2020 was blocked by legislative opposition .
“The Pentagon was not expecting it and has not been planning any kind of drawdown,” a congressional aide told Politico. “But we have to take him seriously because he was serious about it during his first administration” .
Craig Whitlock, a national security reporter, noted on X that Trump’s “threat to pull US troops out of Germany seems to have taken senior Pentagon officials by surprise” and that a 2020 order to remove 12,000 troops from Germany “was never carried out” .
The US has invested “substantial funds” in high-quality infrastructure in Germany that can’t be moved overnight, and any withdrawal would require significant new investments elsewhere .
📋 Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Trump’s Threat | “Yeah, probably. Why shouldn’t I?” — considering troop cuts in Italy, Spain, and Germany |
| Current US Troops in Europe | Germany (36,436), Italy (12,662), Spain (3,814) |
| Trump’s Grievance | European nations refused to join US-led Iran war effort |
| Spain’s Offense | Barred US use of airspace and two military bases for Iran operations |
| Italy’s Offense | Refused to join war, denied airbase access for weapons shipments |
| Germany’s Offense | Chancellor Merz said US was being “humiliated” by Iran |
| Legal Barrier | US law requires minimum 76,000 troops in Europe |
| Historical Precedent | Trump’s 2020 troop withdrawal from Germany was blocked by Congress |
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