Trump Threatens Troop Withdrawal From Italy, Spain
Trump threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, claiming both nations have failed to support his Iran military campaign. Trump stated “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible. Absolutely horrible,” citing European refusal to participate in the Iran war as justification. As of December 2025, 12,662 active-duty U.S. personnel were stationed in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.
Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto rejected Trump’s rationale, noting that Italy has not used the Strait of Hormuz and even offered to conduct shipping protection missions. Trump previously issued identical troop withdrawal threats against Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized U.S. military performance in Iran, telling Merz to stop “interfering” with the war. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has vocally opposed the conflict, describing initial U.S. and Israeli strikes as “illegal” and denying American forces access to Spanish military bases and airspace for Iran operations.
Trump escalated tensions with Italy over Pope Leo’s call for peace in the Iran war, attacking the Pontiff as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the Pope, stating Trump’s remarks were “unacceptable,” prompting Trump to retaliate by calling Meloni “unacceptable” and claiming she disregards Iran’s nuclear threat. The conflict has deepened after Trump’s public feud with the religious leader, whom he previously sought as an ally in Europe.
Trump’s administration has pursued punitive measures against European allies refusing Iran war participation, including threatened NATO suspension of Spain. Trump announced a 25% tariff on E.U. automobiles, claiming the bloc violated trade agreements, despite a July 2025 accord capping tariffs at 15% on European goods. Bernd Lange, chairman of the E.U. parliament’s trade committee, called the threat “unacceptable,” while Matthias Matthijs of the Council on Foreign Relations identified trade as leverage to extract political concessions on the Iran conflict.
The Iran war has destabilized European economies, with the International Monetary Fund downgrading euro area growth forecasts and energy import costs rising EUR 27 billion in 60 days. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that Strait of Hormuz disruption “strangles the global economy,” while U.K. officials accused Trump of entering the war “without a clear plan.” European leaders have consistently refused active participation in the conflict, deepening Trump’s resentment and triggering escalating threats to withdraw military support and impose economic sanctions.