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By Anna Commander, Gabe Whisnant, and Dan Gooding
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President Donald Trump expanded his threat of removing U.S. troops in Europe to Spain and Italy Thursday, after stating he was reviewing their presence in Germany.
The president's comments in the Oval Office reflected his ongoing frustration with European nations over the war in Iran and what he views as a lack of assistance from long-term allies, with leaders in the three countries showing skepticism over the conflict.
Trump said Wednesday that the United States was "studying and reviewing" a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany, and has now opened that up to the other two nations, telling reporters, "Why shouldn't I?"
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Any move to scale back U.S. forces could have implications for NATO unity, Europe’s security posture and America’s military footprint abroad, as Trump weighs his next steps.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Wednesday for comment.
Tensions With Italy, Spain, and Germany
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has positioned himself as a European counterweight to the U.S. President, while Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni was long seen as a close ally of Trump's before the war, before seeming to distance herself from him.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had voiced concern over the administration’s handling of Iran and ongoing negotiations tied to the Strait of Hormuz.
Merz’s criticism marked the strongest rebuke yet from the NATO allied country of Washington’s current approach to Iran, highlighting possible strains inside the Western alliance as energy costs rise and maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
"The Iranians are clearly stronger than expected, and the Americans clearly have no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either," Merz said. He added, "A whole nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership."
In the post to Truth Social, Trump said, "The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
On Tuesday the president ripped into Merz's comment saying in part that, "He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!" and later adding, "No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!"
Then on Thursday, when asked if he was considering pulling troops from Spain and Italy, Trump said "Yeah, probably."
"Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible," he said, pointing to the U.S.' help for Europe with Ukraine.
U.S Military Presence in Germany, Italy and Spain: What to Know
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The United States has maintained a major military presence in Germany since the end of World War II, when American forces occupied the defeated nation and later helped anchor NATO’s front line during the Cold War.
U.S. bases across Germany became central to Washington’s effort to deter the former Soviet Union, with troop levels peaking at more than 250,000 during the height of East‑West tensions.
While the force footprint shrank significantly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Germany has remained a key hub for U.S. forces operating in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to U.S. military histories.
Today, tens of thousands of U.S. service members are stationed in Germany, home to major installations including Ramstein Air Base, the largest U.S. air base outside the United States, and extensive Army training and command centers in Bavaria and Stuttgart.
The country hosts U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command headquarters and serves as a major logistics and medical hub for American operations abroad. U.S. officials have long said the presence supports NATO deterrence and rapid deployments, even as troop levels and basing arrangements have periodically been reviewed by successive administrations
In Spain, the U.S. has roughly 3,800 active-duty personnel, including at the Rota naval station. In Italy, there are around 13,000 troops across seven naval bases.
Trump has previously questioned the scale of the U.S. military footprint in Europe, particularly in Germany, arguing that Berlin has not paid its "fair share" for defense. During his first term, he ordered plans for a major troop drawdown from Germany, though those moves were later paused under the Biden administration.
Iran War and Oil Disruptions Strain U. S.—Europe Ties
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The renewed friction comes as tensions around Iran continue to ripple through global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil and gas shipments, remains a focal point of international concern, with disruptions contributing to higher prices and economic pressure on Western allies.
Any reduction in U.S. troops would likely prompt intense debate within NATO, where Eastern European allies in particular have pressed Washington to maintain a strong military presence on the continent amid ongoing geopolitical instability.
Merz met with Trump at the White House in March, shortly after the United States and Israel began their bombardment of Iran. During the meeting, Merz said Germany was prepared to work with Washington on a strategy for a post‑Tehran government and warned that a prolonged conflict risked serious harm to the global economy.
Those concerns have deepened as negotiations between the United States and Iran have failed to produce an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply flowed before the war began. The waterway has remained effectively closed since the conflict erupted on February 28, fueling anxiety among European leaders over energy supplies and economic stability.
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