President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw American military forces from Italy and Spain, escalating a broader dispute with European allies over their reluctance to back US operations in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting by The Guardian.
The threats came just one day after Trump said he was considering reducing the number of US troops stationed in Germany, signaling a widening rift between Washington and its NATO partners over shared security commitments.
Trump described European countries as "absolutely horrible" for declining to support American naval operations in the strategically vital waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes.
Germany dispute adds to tensions
The confrontation with Germany emerged after Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly stated that the United States was being "humiliated" by Iran. Trump's response was to signal a potential drawdown of the roughly 35,000 US troops currently based in Germany, a presence that dates back to the post-World War II era.
The sequence of statements suggests a coordinated or escalating pressure campaign by Trump against European allies he views as insufficiently supportive of American foreign policy objectives in the Middle East.
Strategic implications
US military installations in Italy and Spain serve as critical logistics and operational hubs for American forces in Europe and the Mediterranean. A withdrawal from those countries would represent a significant shift in the American military footprint on the continent and could have far-reaching consequences for NATO's collective defense posture.
Italy hosts several major US bases, including Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, which plays a central role in Mediterranean and North African operations. Spain is home to Naval Station Rota, one of the most strategically important American installations in Europe.
European governments have not yet issued formal public responses to Trump's latest threats, according to available reporting. The dispute adds to a period of sustained friction between the Trump administration and traditional American allies in Europe over defense spending, trade policy, and differing approaches to Iran.
The Guardian first reported Trump's statements regarding Italy and Spain on May 1, 2026.
