“Why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible. Absolutely horrible,” he replied, doubling down on his argument that NATO allies have not supported the U.S. during the Iran war.
As of December 2025, there were 12,662 U.S. active-duty personnel stationed in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, according to data from the U.S. Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC).
“I wouldn't understand the reasons behind it. As is clear to anyone, we haven't used the Strait of Hormuz. And we've even offered to carry out a mission to protect shipping—a gesture that, incidentally, was greatly appreciated by the U.S. military,” he told Italian ANSA news agency.
Trump’s remarks regarding Italy and Spain mirror a similar warning he issued to Germany this week amid an escalating row with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Trump bolstered the threat by warning Merz to focus on matters closer to home instead of "interfering" with the Iran war.
The row reflects how the conflict in the Middle East—and the consequential disruption in the Strait of Hormuz that has upended global markets—continues to strain relations between the U.S. and its European allies.
Spain denied America access to its joint-military bases to attack Iran and also proceeded to close its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the conflict.
Sánchez recently downplayed reports of a leaked internal Pentagon email, which reportedly indicated the U.S. was floating the idea of suspending Spain from NATO as part of a move to punish “difficult” allies.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, once seen as a close ally of Trump in Europe, has also emphasized Italy’s distance from the Iran war.
Tensions escalated once more over Trump’s public feud with Pope Leo.
“I find President Trump’s words regarding the Holy Father to be unacceptable,” Meloni said. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal that he should call for peace and condemn all forms of war.”
Trump later told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that Meloni was the “unacceptable” one, claiming she “doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon."
“The curtailment of navigational rights and freedoms in the area of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts energy, transport, manufacturing and food markets, and strangles the global economy,” he said.
Guterres urged for the full reopening of the Strait and for “dialogue and measures” that can lead to a durable peace.
Hence then, the article about trump threatens to withdraw u s troops from italy and spain as europe rift widens was published today ( ) and is available on Time ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump Threatens to Withdraw U.S. Troops From Italy and Spain as Europe Rift Widens )
Also on site :