Humaira Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said “maybe” on Thursday when asked whether he would consider withdrawing U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, a day after he announced that Washington was considering reducing the number of military personnel in Germany.
Trump harshly criticized NATO allies for not sending navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which was closed to global shipping after the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran on February 28. He also said he was considering withdrawing the United States from the alliance.
Internal Pentagon emails reported by Reuters last week outlined U.S. options for punishing NATO allies it sees as failing to support U.S. actions in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from the alliance.
Trump, who earlier this month discussed the possibility of withdrawing some U.S. troops from Europe, said on Wednesday his administration was considering reducing U.S. troops in Germany and would make a decision soon.
Asked on Thursday whether he would consider withdrawing troops from Italy and Spain, two countries that have also been critical of the Iran war, Trump said, “Probably… look, why shouldn’t I? Italy is not giving us any help and Spain is terrible, absolutely terrible.”
Trump last month threatened a sweeping trade embargo on Spain after European allies refused to allow U.S. troops to use their bases for missions related to the fight against Iran.
According to the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center, as of December 2025, the United States had more than 68,000 active-duty service members permanently deployed at overseas bases in Europe. More than half (approximately 36,400 people) live in Germany.
(Reporting by Humela Pamuk and Andrea Shalal; Editing by David Ljungren and Deepa Babington)