The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a plan to “punish” certain NATO members who allegedly failed to provide sufficient assistance to the United States and Israel during the war with Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources. The plan involves withdrawing U.S. troops from alliance states that did not actively support the U.S. operation and relocating them to countries deemed more beneficial by Washington. This proposal differs from Trump’s previous threats to fully withdraw the U.S. from NATO, as such a move can only be carried out with Congressional approval.
The report indicates that this plan has garnered support among high-ranking officials in the administration but remains in the early stages of development. Approximately 84,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Europe, with bases in the region serving as a key hub for global U.S. military operations. Bases in Eastern Europe also function as a deterrent factor against Russia.
WSJ could not determine which specific countries the U.S. might withdraw its military contingent from, but among the “displeased” members cited by Trump is Spain. This is the only NATO state that has not committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense, as demanded by the U.S. president. Additionally, Spain closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran operation. The Trump administration is also reportedly dissatisfied with Germany for criticizing the war with Iran, despite Germany being one of the largest and most important centers supporting U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
Furthermore, Italy refused to provide an airbase in Sicily for U.S. bombers, and France agreed to base usage only on the condition that aircraft not participating in strikes against Iran could land there. According to the publication’s interlocutors, besides troop redeployment, the plan may include closing a U.S. base in at least one European country, possibly Spain or Germany.
Implementation of this plan could benefit Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Greece, writes WSJ. These countries are among the top spenders on defense within NATO and have expressed readiness to be among the first to support an international coalition to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. On April 6, Trump stated that he was “very disappointed” with NATO and that its reluctance to support the U.S. in the war with Iran is “an indelible stain for NATO.”
High-ranking European officials noted that the U.S. initially did not consult with alliance members about the war, complicating coordination of military actions in the early days of the conflict. Defense ministers from Estonia and Italy were unable to depart from Dubai after the UAE closed its commercial airspace. On April 8, Trump held a closed meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, after which he again criticized the alliance, writing on the Truth Social network: “WHEN WE NEEDED HELP, NATO WAS NOT THERE AND IF THEY ARE NEEDED AGAIN, THEY WILL NOT BE THERE AGAIN.”
Rutte himself, in an interview with CNN, described the meeting with Trump as “sincere and open.” When asked if this is a test for NATO states and whether they passed it, Rutte responded: “Some of them—yes, but the majority of European countries… fulfilled their commitments.” According to the NATO secretary general, he attempted to explain to Trump that most countries in the region assisted with logistics issues and met other obligations as alliance members.
Source: www.gazeta.uz