US President Donald Trump has indicated over the past 48 hours that he is considering withdrawing American troops stationed in Germany, Italy, and Spain, as tensions escalate with European nations critical of his handling of the war with Iran.
Earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the US was being “humiliated” by Iran in the ongoing conflict, adding that the Trump administration had “no truly convincing strategy” to end the war. Speaking to students in Marsberg, Merz said: “It is costing us a great deal of money. This conflict, this war against Iran, has a direct impact on our economic output.”
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, accusing Merz of thinking “it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” The following day, Trump posted: “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.”
When asked Thursday whether he would also consider pulling troops from Italy and Spain, Trump replied: “Probably … Look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Reuters reported April 10, citing a senior White House official, that Trump discussed with advisers the possibility of removing some US troops from Europe. Germany, Italy, and Spain collectively host nearly 53,000 US troops. As of December 2025, the US had approximately 68,064 active-duty military personnel in Europe, spread across 31 permanent bases and 19 military sites, according to Pentagon data.
The largest US base in Europe is Ramstein Air Base in Germany, hosting 36,436 service members. US forces have been stationed in Italy since World War II, with 12,662 personnel, while Spain hosts 3,814. The US military presence in Europe dates back to WWII and has been critical for US operations in the Middle East, including wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Iran.
Trump’s threats come amid the unresolved US-Israeli war on Iran, which began February 28. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively choked, severely disrupting global shipping and battering the world economy. Trump has publicly criticized European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for not supporting the US war effort.
In 2020, during his first term, Trump threatened to withdraw about 12,000 troops from Germany, but Congress pushed back, and former President Joe Biden overturned the decision. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a provision barring permanent reductions of US troop levels in Europe below 75,000, potentially complicating Trump’s plans.
Host nations typically provide rent-free land and pay local staff salaries, sharing the costs of stationing US forces. The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest American hospital outside the US, serves as a primary evacuation center for US forces in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Source: www.aljazeera.com