Spanish soldiers secure the perimeter of a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, in 2023. President Donald Trump said he may pull some U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, saying the countries have not helped in the operation against Iran. (Katie Tamesis/U.S. Army)
Italy and Spain will likely face U.S. troop cuts in retaliation for not cooperating with the American military operation against Iran, President Donald Trump said Thursday.
Trump’s comments came one day after he said he also was considering reductions in Germany following recent criticism from Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran situation.
“Yeah, probably will,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he planned to pull some service members out of Italy and Spain.
“Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely,” Trump added.
The flurry of threats from Trump comes as the U.S. and Iran remain deadlocked on how to end the conflict, which started Feb. 28 with joint American and Israeli strikes against the Iranian leadership.
Negotiations following a ceasefire failed, and NATO member countries have varied in their willingness to help U.S. efforts in the mission, known as Operation Epic Fury.
It’s unclear whether Trump intends to follow through on his various threats related to where U.S. forces are based in Europe.
A sniper and his Spanish spotter line up their target Oct. 26, 2018. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will “probably” consider pulling American troops out of Spain as a consequence for its refusal to aid U.S. operations in the war against Iran. ( 1st German-Netherlands Corps)
In the case of Spain and Italy, Trump would have fewer options than he does with Germany, which has the largest U.S. military presence on the Continent, some 34,000 troops.
There are roughly 12,000 U.S. military personnel based in Italy, home to the Navy’s European headquarters in Naples. Another hub is Vicenza, where the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade operates.
The brigade serves as the Army’s contingency force in Europe and is designed to deploy quickly to crises in Europe and Africa.
The Army has been building up over the past few years in Vicenza, where an ongoing $500 million housing project is slated to create more than 470 homes by 2028.
The Pentagon’s other main location in Italy is an air base in Aviano, home to the 31st Fighter Wing and its two F-16 fighter squadrons, among other capabilities. The base airfield also is key to the 173rd’s quick-response mission.
An artist’s rendering shows the completed $500 million housing project in Vicenza, Italy, which will provide 478 new homes for Army families by 2028. The development will feature a mix of apartments, townhouses and single-family homes, according to Army officials. (AECOM)
The country’s defense minister, Guido Crosetto, told Italian news outlet Ansa that he didn’t understand the basis for Trump’s comments that Italy has been unhelpful.
Crosetto also said Italy is prepared to assist in a mission to protect commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, something other allies in Europe have been discussing for weeks.
Any European mission to secure navigation, however, would come once hostilities have ended, allies have said.
Trump would have even fewer withdrawal options in Spain, home to about 3,000 service members. Most of the U.S. military presence is at the Navy base in Rota. The five destroyers there also are integral to NATO’s missile defense architecture.
While Trump has called on European allies to help clear the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping chokepoint, the waterway remains largely closed.
The circumstances have led to a sharp increase in gas prices and could pose a threat to the global economy the longer the crisis drags on.
Spain has faced the toughest criticism from the Trump administration for its refusal to allow bases and airspace in the country to be used for any operations related to the Iran conflict.
Spain also is the only ally that refused to go along with Trump’s demand that all NATO members increase defense spending levels to 5% of gross domestic product.
Trump has frequently used the U.S. military presence in Europe as leverage when coming into conflict with allies on various issues, such as defense spending. For example, in his first term he threatened to pull 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany.
For host nations, the U.S. military gives an economic jolt to local communities where troops are based. In return, the U.S. network of bases across the Continent offers the Pentagon an array of options when it comes to projecting power in Europe and beyond.
Several bases in Europe have played key roles in enabling U.S. forces to carry out operations against Iran, including military sites in Germany, the United Kingdom, Romania and Greece.
