Shafaqna Pakistan: Donald Trump, the US President, has warned of a possible reduction in American troop deployments in Germany, with the option of extending cuts to Italy and Spain, as tensions escalate between Washington and its European allies over the US-led military campaign against Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump said the United States is reviewing troop levels in Germany and will make a decision in the near future.
He further escalated the warning on Thursday, suggesting that similar reductions could also apply to Italy and Spain.
“They haven’t been exactly on board,” President Trump said when asked about the possibility, according to CNN. “Yeah, probably will. Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible.”
The remarks come amid widening transatlantic divisions over the conflict with Iran, which the United States launched without informing most North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies in advance. While Germany was reportedly briefed ahead of the initial strikes, European governments have largely refrained from direct involvement and continue to advocate for a diplomatic resolution.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz drew criticism from Trump earlier this week after saying the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran and questioning Washington’s strategy for ending the conflict.
Germany hosts around 36,400 active-duty U.S. troops, according to the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center, making it the largest U.S. military presence in Europe. Italy hosts more than 12,600 personnel, while Spain hosts about 3,800.
Tensions have also been fueled by Trump’s repeated criticism of NATO allies and his suggestion that the United States could reassess its role in the alliance, which he has previously described as a “paper tiger.”
European governments, including Germany, have provided limited indirect support for U.S. operations, including access to military infrastructure such as air bases, but have declined to take part in offensive actions.
The dispute marks a sharp escalation in friction between Washington and Berlin, which had largely avoided direct criticism from Trump since his return to office.
Source: Dunya News
