"Perhaps I will. Why wouldn't I?" US President Donald Trump responded on 30/4 when asked if he would consider cutting the number of US military personnel stationed in Italy and Spain.
"Italy does not help us at all, and Spain is truly problematic," the US leader added.
President Trump stated that the US-led campaign against Iran had benefited the entire world, including Italy, Spain, and Germany. He criticized these "so-called allies" for not participating in efforts to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.
A day earlier, President Trump had indicated that the US was "studying and evaluating" the possibility of reducing its troop presence in Germany, adding that he would announce a decision soon.
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US President Donald Trump speaking at the White House on 30/4. Photo: AP
According to AFP news agency, 36,436 US troops were stationed in Germany as of 12/2025. The numbers for Italy and Spain were 12,662 and 3,814 military personnel, respectively.
It remains unclear how many personnel the Trump administration is considering withdrawing, but some US media outlets have reported that the reduction could be substantial.
President Trump has sharply criticized NATO allies for not supporting the US-Israel launched campaign against Iran or taking action to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway for global oil and gas flows has been blocked since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.
After Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the campaign against Iran last month, President Trump unexpectedly attacked his former close right-wing ally. He claimed Meloni "lacked courage" for not resisting domestic pressure and not publicly supporting the US-Israel campaign.
Tensions between Trump and Madrid have been long-standing. The dispute began after President Trump criticized Spain's stance towards Israel regarding the conflict between Tel Aviv and the Hamas armed group in the Gaza Strip. It then expanded to disagreements over Madrid's failure to increase defense spending to meet NATO requirements.
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US troops participating in close-quarters combat training at Rota naval base in Spain in 9/2025. Photo: US Navy
At the bloc's summit last year, all members agreed to President Trump's proposal to increase defense spending to an equivalent of 5% of GDP. The sole exception was Spain, where Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared he would only do what benefited the country and decided to maintain the current spending level.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized Spain, threatening to cut trade relations with the nation and calling for Madrid's expulsion from NATO.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Euronews)
