Trump Threatens to Withdraw US Troops from Germany, Italy and Spain Over Iran War Dispute

President Donald Trump threatens to withdraw US troops from Germany, Italy, and Spain following European criticism of his Iran war strategy, particularly from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who suggested the US lacks a coherent approach and was humiliated by Iranian negotiators. The US maintains over 36,000 troops in Germany, 12,000 in Italy, and 10,000 in Spain, with Germany's Ramstein air base serving as a major hub. Trump accuses Merz of doing a terrible job and criticizes European allies for refusing involvement in the Iran conflict, while Germany says it is prepared for potential troop reductions despite Merz claiming Trump assured him in March of continued US military presence. The dispute intensifies broader tensions over NATO, which Trump has repeatedly called a paper tiger, with leaked Pentagon emails revealing plans to punish allies including potential suspension of Spain from the alliance.

Trump's Threat to Withdraw US Troops from European Bases

• ▪The US military deployment in Germany, currently at more than 36,000 active-duty troops, is by far its biggest in Europe, compared with about 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the UK
• ▪The US has more than 36,000 active duty troops assigned to bases across Germany as of December
• ▪German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after talks with President Donald Trump in Washington in March 2026 that Trump had assured him the US would maintain its military presence in Germany
• ▪In 2020, a proposal to move 12,000 US troops from Germany either to other NATO countries in Europe or back to the US was blocked by Congress and then reversed by President Joe Biden
• ▪Germany's total defense expenditure next year is set to reach 3.1% of GDP
• ▪Germany is projected to spend €105.8bn in 2027 on defense
• ▪In 2020, President Donald Trump accused Germany of being delinquent because its military spending was well below NATO's target of 2% of GDP

Diplomatic Tensions Between Trump and German Chancellor Merz

• ▪Germany, along with the UK and France, was part of a 2015 deal with Iran to limit its nuclear operations
• ▪President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018

NATO Allies' Response to the Iran War and US Pressure

• ▪Over the past two months, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the 32-member NATO alliance, calling it a paper tiger and a one-way street

Perspective of Friedrich Merz

• ▪German Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised concerns about economic consequences for Europe resulting from the Strait of Hormuz closure

Perspective of European NATO allies

• ▪Germany, the UK, and France maintained participation in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal after the US withdrew in 2018