Former President Donald Trump said he is considering reducing the size of the U.S. military presence in Spain and Italy [1].
This potential shift in foreign policy signals a possible move toward a more isolationist approach to NATO alliances, prioritizing bilateral cooperation over traditional collective security agreements.
Trump made the comments on April 30 [1]. He criticized the two nations for failing to cooperate during U.S. military actions against Iran, saying that the U.S. did not receive the necessary support when requested [1].
"We helped them in Ukraine. When we needed them, they were not there," Trump said [1].
When asked about the likelihood of reducing troop levels in these countries, Trump said, "Oh, probably so" [1].
This proposal follows a similar pattern of reviewing U.S. commitments in Europe. On April 29, Trump said he was considering a reduction of U.S. forces stationed in Germany [2].
The former president has frequently questioned the balance of contributions among NATO members, suggesting that nations failing to meet defense spending targets or provide strategic support should not expect full U.S. protection.
While the U.S. maintains several key bases in Spain and Italy, the scale of any potential reduction remains unspecified. The comments highlight a recurring tension between the former president's "America First" philosophy and the established security architecture of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
“"We helped them in Ukraine. When we needed them, they were not there,"”
These statements reflect a transactional approach to diplomacy where military basing is used as leverage to secure specific geopolitical cooperation. By linking troop levels to support for operations against Iran, Trump is challenging the traditional NATO framework of mutual defense, suggesting that U.S. security guarantees may become conditional based on a partner's willingness to assist in U.S.-led initiatives.
