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Trump weighs pulling some US troops from Europe amid NATO strains: Reuters

09.04.2026 23:00
US President Donald Trump has discussed with advisers the possibility of withdrawing some American troops from Europe amid tensions with NATO allies, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday, citing a senior White House official it did not name.
US President Donald Trump.
US President Donald Trump.Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO

The report said Trump has been frustrated by what he sees as allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and by a lack of progress on his proposal to acquire Greenland.

No decision has been made, and the White House has not instructed the Pentagon to draw up concrete plans for a troop reduction, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

However, the discussions highlight strains in relations between Washington and its European NATO allies in recent months, Reuters reported.

It said the official did not specify which countries could be affected or how many troops might be withdrawn if Trump proceeds with the plan.

According to The Wall Street JournalTrump's administration is considering withdrawing American troops from NATO countries that failed to sufficiently support the United States during the war with Iran, and repositioning them to eastern-flank allies such as Poland.

In an interview published last week by Britain’s Telegraph newspaper, Trump said the United States was strongly considering leaving NATO after allies failed to support US military action against Iran.

He described the alliance as a “paper tiger” and said withdrawal was “beyond reconsideration.”

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said NATO could not function without the United States, but added that Washington also depends on the alliance.

“There is no NATO without the United States, but there is also no American power without NATO,” he said.

Experts have long warned that suggestions the United States might not honour its NATO commitments could embolden Russia to test the alliance, including its Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO, accusing allies of failing to spend enough on defence and share the burden.

Earlier this month, he rebuked allies for not supporting US-Israeli military action against Iran, calling them "cowards" in a social media post.

“COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” he wrote.

In earlier remarks, Trump said many NATO allies had told Washington they did not want to get involved, calling their stance a “very foolish mistake.”

In comments to the Financial Times in mid-March, Trump warned NATO could face a "very bad future" over allies' refusal to join the United States and Israel in their military campaign against Iran.

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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP