Is Donald Trump considering withdrawing American troops from Italy and Spain? “Yes, probably. Italy gave us no help, Spain was horrible,” the President of the United States said in response to journalists in the Oval Office. Trump also raised the possibility of reducing the contingent in Germany. Citing NATO’s limited cooperation in the conflict with Iran, the US president extended his remarks to other countries, notably Italy and Spain. “They could have at least said it politely…,” Trump added. “We helped them with Ukraine even though an ocean separates us. When we needed them, they weren’t there: that should not be forgotten. We didn’t really need their help; I wanted to see what they would do. And they said ‘we don’t want to be involved.’ We don’t even use the Strait of Hormuz, we don’t need it for oil. They do…” Trump was referring to the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for the transit of about 20% of the world’s oil trade.

Possible pullback from Germany as well

Trump made a similar suggestion today on social media regarding Germany and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying his administration is “studying and evaluating the possible reduction of troops in Germany and that a decision will be made shortly.” The comment is naturally linked to recent statements by the Chancellor, who said that America had been “humiliated” by Tehran in a conflict where Washington underestimated the enemy’s real capabilities and asserted that the United States is facing difficulties in negotiations.

“The Iranians are evidently very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilled at not negotiating: the Americans go to Islamabad and then leave without any result,” Merz said. “The Americans, evidently, do not have a strategy. The problem in these conflicts is that you must not only enter, but also exit. We learned that at our expense in Afghanistan over 20 years. We saw it in Iraq. At the moment I do not see which strategic way out the Americans are choosing.”