Donald Trump is punishing America’s closest allies for not taking part in a war that Congress never approved — and by doing so, he is breaking down the NATO military setup that has helped keep the Western world safe for 80 years.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that 5,000 U.S. troops will leave Germany over the next six to twelve months — because German Chancellor Friedrich Merz dared to say out loud that Iran was “humiliating” the United States by blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
A top Pentagon official called Merz’s comments “inappropriate and unhelpful.” In other words, a NATO ally spoke the truth and now faces punishment.
Trump didn’t stop there.
He also threatened Italy and Spain with pulling out troops. “Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he said to reporters. Italy’s defense minister was confused, explaining that his country had offered to help with a mission to protect shipping and that the claim about Italian ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz — Trump’s main complaint — “never happened.”
Spain, too, refused to let the U.S. use their shared bases for attacks on Iran.
This is completely within Spain’s rights as stated in the treaties for those bases. Prime Minister Sánchez called Trump’s plan “an illegal war” and said it shows “the failure of brute force.”
He’s not entirely wrong.
And now, American troops might leave Rota and Morón — important places for U.S. naval and air operations in Europe and Africa — because Trump is angry that Spain won’t join a war Congress never approved.
Even some Republicans are worried.
Rep. Don Bacon wrote: “The continued attacks on NATO allies hurt Americans. The two big airfields in Germany give us great access in three continents. We are shooting ourselves in our own feet.”
Germany is America’s biggest military base in Europe and serves as a key center for operations across three continents.
The troops being pulled out were stationed there to fight Russian aggression — the same Russian threat that Trump has been downplaying for years.
Europe said no to Trump’s war.
Trump is punishing the alliance that keeps Europe protected from Russia. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is watching all of this very closely.
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