Donald Trump threatened to withdraw US military forces from Italy and Spain, escalating tensions with two of America's closest Mediterranean allies over their refusal to support operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning came just hours after Trump signaled similar moves against Germany, widening his confrontation with European NATO partners he says are shirking shared security burdens.
When asked Thursday whether he would pull troops from Italy and Spain, Trump was blunt. "Probably," he said. "Look, why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."
The core dispute centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. Trump has repeatedly demanded NATO allies deploy naval forces to secure the waterway, but most European capitals have refused, viewing the effort as linked to his administration's confrontation with Iran. Both Italy and Spain have declined to participate, with Spain's government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez leading the push back against what it calls Trump's "illegal war."
Italy's defense minister, Guido Crosetto, rejected Trump's criticism as unfounded. He told Ansa news agency that Italy has actively supported maritime security operations and that the country has not used the Strait of Hormuz for military purposes, contradicting Trump's suggestion that European nations have benefited from the corridor while refusing to help protect it. "As is clear to everyone, this never happened," Crosetto said. "We have also made ourselves available for a mission to protect shipping. This was greatly appreciated by the American military."
The standoff with Italy grew more combustible after Rome refused to allow US military aircraft carrying weapons to transit through the Sigonella naval air station in Sicily in late March. The refusal hinged on treaty obligations from the 1950s that restrict the base to logistics and training unless an emergency warrants exception. Italian residents and politicians had also protested increased military activity at Sigonella, particularly after a US Navy helicopter landed at a protected natural park near Palermo during a training exercise.
Trump struck back at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she criticized his attacks on Pope Francis over the pontiff's condemnation of the Iran conflict. Trump accused Meloni of lacking courage and later posted on Truth Social that Italy had failed America. "Italy wasn't there for us, we won't be there for them," the post read, accompanied by a link to reporting about the Sigonella dispute.
About 13,000 US military personnel are stationed across seven naval bases in Italy, making the country a crucial hub for American Mediterranean operations.
Spain faces equal pressure. The country hosts roughly 3,800 US active-duty personnel across two strategically vital joint-use facilities: Rota naval station and Morón airbase, both in Andalusia. Rota serves as a key hub for the US Navy's sixth fleet, while Morón functions as a staging post for air force and marine corps operations spanning Europe and Africa. Last month, Trump threatened Spain with a full trade embargo over its refusal to allow the bases for Iran-related missions.
Sánchez has maintained Spain's stance through diplomatic channels. At an EU summit last week, he said his government operates "with official documents and statements" and practices "absolute cooperation with allies, but always within the framework of international law." He characterized Trump's approach as a demonstration that "brute force" fails as a governing principle.
Trump has also indicated he is considering withdrawing from NATO entirely if allies do not comply with his demands. On April 1, he said he was "absolutely without question" weighing a NATO exit in response to European refusal to engage in Iran operations. Such a move would require either a two-thirds Senate majority or an act of Congress, due to legislation passed in 2024 that effectively blocks unilateral withdrawal.
Spain's Sánchez previously rejected NATO's proposal to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, calling it both unreasonable and counterproductive. The Spanish government has positioned itself as the EU's most vocal critic of Trump's Iran strategy.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's troop threats expose the growing rift between his transatlantic vision and what Europe sees as a dangerous overreach, and allies aren't backing down."
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