President Donald Trump said Thursday he would "probably" consider pulling U.S. troops out of Italy and Spain [1, 2].
The threat signals a potential shift in transatlantic security commitments and pressures NATO allies to align with U.S. military objectives in the Middle East.
Speaking during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2026, Trump responded to questions about the U.S. military presence in Europe [1]. He linked the potential withdrawal to a lack of support from these nations regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran [2, 4].
"Probably," Trump said when asked if he might withdraw the forces [1].
Trump said that the presence of U.S. troops is contingent on the cooperation of host nations. "I will pull them out if they don't support us," Trump said [2]. He said to reporters, "We might have to reconsider our presence in Italy and Spain" [3].
Reports on the specific countries targeted by this threat vary. Some sources indicate the warning was directed specifically at Italy and Spain [1], while other reports suggest Trump threatened to pull troops from three NATO countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain [5].
The move comes as the U.S. continues its military operations alongside Israel against Iran. Trump has used the threat of troop withdrawals to pressure allies who have not actively supported these operations [2, 4]. This approach mirrors previous tensions between the administration and NATO members regarding defense spending and regional security contributions.
“"I will pull them out if they don't support us,"”
This rhetoric suggests a transactional approach to NATO alliances, where U.S. security guarantees are leveraged to secure diplomatic or military support for specific conflicts. By threatening the removal of troops from strategic Mediterranean bases in Italy and Spain, the administration is testing the resolve of European allies and potentially altering the long-standing security architecture of the alliance in favor of immediate geopolitical goals in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
