WASHINGTON D.C. - President Donald Trump has signaled a potential withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Italy and Spain, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he "probably will" pull troops from both countries amid widening disagreements within NATO over his administration's Iran policy .
When asked directly about possible troop reductions in the two NATO member states, Trump responded: "Yeah, probably. Why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible" .
Trump Says “Probably” on Possible U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Italy and Spain#Trump #USMilitary #Italy #Spain #NATO #Defense #MilitaryDeployment #ForeignPolicy #Europe pic.twitter.com/qSOp4Gm3It
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The remarks came just one day after Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the United States was "studying and reviewing the possible reduction of troops in Germany," with a determination to be made in the "near future" . The president's criticism of Germany followed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's comments that the U.S. lacked an exit strategy in Iran and was being "humiliated" in negotiations with Tehran .
The European Backlash
Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto responded swiftly to Trump's threat, telling Italy's ANSA news agency that he "doesn't understand the reasons" behind the president's remarks . Crosetto rejected accusations that Rome has failed to support U.S. efforts, noting that Italy made itself available for a mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz - a gesture that was "greatly appreciated by the American military," he said .
The tension between Washington and its European allies stems from their reluctance to participate directly in the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran. Italy recently denied the United States permission to use the strategic Sigonella Air Base in Sicily for a flight linked to operations in West Asia, determining that no formal authorization had been requested . Similarly, Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, with Defence Minister Margarita Robles stating that Spain will not authorize the use of Morón and Rota military bases for any acts related to the war in Iran .
U.S. Military Footprint in Europe
Official data from December 2025 shows the United States maintains a significant military presence across Europe:
Germany: Approximately 36,400 active-duty U.S. troops
Italy: Approximately 12,600 active-duty troops stationed at facilities including Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Naval Support Activity Naples, Aviano Air Base in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Caserma Ederle in Vicenza (home of the 173rd Airborne Brigade), and Camp Darby in Tuscany
Spain: Approximately 3,800 active-duty troops
Strategic Implications
Analysts warn that a withdrawal would be costly for the U.S. and may not serve American strategic interests. Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, told Newsweek that Trump's comments are "clearly about retribution" against European leaders and "not a strategy move." He added: "If this continues, we're only hurting ourselves" .
Nico Lange from the Center of European Policy Analysis noted that the U.S. has invested "substantial funds" in high-quality infrastructure in Germany that can't be moved overnight, and a different deployment would cost Washington a huge amount of money requiring congressional approval . Congress has already blocked the U.S. government from taking troop numbers in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days .
Trump's threats echo his first-term efforts in 2020 to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany - a plan that ultimately did not materialize due to congressional opposition and the high costs of relocation .
What Comes Next
The president stated that a determination on troop reductions would be made "over the next short period of time," though he provided no specific timeline or details . The administration is reportedly conducting a systematic re-evaluation of the U.S. strategic footprint across Europe, with potential redeployments possibly shifting forces to the Indo-Pacific region .
For now, European leaders have signaled defiance. Italy's Crosetto, while puzzled by Trump's remarks, has emphasized that Italian sovereignty and legal procedures must be respected . The coming weeks will determine whether Trump's threats translate into action - or whether, as in 2020, the plan stalls against political and logistical realities.
