[Salon] Trump threatens Sánchez and Meloni with US troops withdrawal

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-threatens-spain-pedro-sanchez-and-italy-giorgia-meloni-with-us-troops-withdrawal/

Trump threatens Sánchez and Meloni with US troops withdrawal

The remarks follow similar threats aimed at Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week.

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U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House on April 30, 2026 in Washington. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

May 1, 2026 11:21 am CET

By POLITICO

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would "probably" remove American troops from Spain and Italy, in renewed attacks against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italian leader Giorgia Meloni.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the American leader said Italy had "not been of any help to us," and accused Spain of being "absolutely horrible." Both Spain and Italy have denied U.S. military planes that are taking part in the Iran war from using their bases.

The remarks follow similar threats aimed at Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week. All three European NATO allies have been critical of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

Sánchez has styled himself as a European counterweight to Trump, while Meloni — one of Trump's European staunchest allies after his reelection in 2024 — has been distancing herself from the U.S. president recently, in a bid to save her premiership ahead of the national election expected in 2027. Merz said the U.S. is getting "humiliated" by Iran in the Middle East conflict.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto responded to the comments, telling media outlet ANSA he "wouldn’t understand the reasons" for a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops from Italy.

The United States has around 12,000 armed forces personnel stationed in Italy, with only Germany having a higher number in Europe at over 36,000. Spain hosts about 3,800 troops, according to an overview published by the Pentagon in December.

Merz long walked a tightrope to keep his relationship with Trump smooth, and Berlin, unlike Rome and Madrid, does allow the U.S. to use its Ramstein Air Base to coordinate military operations against Iran.

Any U.S. withdrawal from Germany would cost billions and take years, while weakening a key strategic advantage in its conflict with Iran and its ability to project military power globally.

Defense officials told POLITICO that there are no immediate plans for a drawdown but that they take Trump’s comments seriously.