Trump eyes pulling US troops from Europe as Nato row deepens over Iran and Hormuz

Trump weighs troop pullback from Europe as Nato rift deepens over Iran, Hormuz and Greenland tensions, signalling one of the most serious strains in transatlantic ties in decades.

In Short

• Trump frustrated by NATO allies' response to Iran conflict
• No final decision made on troop withdrawal
• The US has over 80,000 troops stationed across Europe

US President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing some American troops from Europe, frustrated by Nato allies’ response to the Iran conflict and stalled ambitions over Greenland, according to a senior White House official who spoke to Reuters.

Trump, upset at NATO allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and angry that his plans to acquire Greenland have not moved forward,” has discussed with advisers the option of removing troops from the continent, the official said.

No final decision has been made, and the White House has not asked the Pentagon to prepare concrete withdrawal plans. Still, the internal discussions alone point to a sharp deterioration in ties between Washington and its European allies.

The issue surfaced even as Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited the White House this week, a meeting that appears to have done little to repair relations now described by officials as among the most strained since the alliance’s founding in 1949.

The United States currently has more than 80,000 troops stationed across Europe, forming the backbone of the continent’s security architecture since World War Two. Germany hosts the largest share, with over 30,000 troops, alongside significant deployments in Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain.

Trump’s frustration has been building for months. He has long accused European allies of underinvesting in defence, but tensions have escalated sharply since the outbreak of the Iran war. The president has voiced anger that NATO countries did not step forward to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route that has remained largely disrupted despite a fragile ceasefire.

At the same time, his renewed push to assert control over Greenland — a Danish territory — has further strained transatlantic ties, triggering concern across European capitals.

Nato diplomats, however, say the United States has not clearly outlined what role it expected allies to play in Hormuz operations or what capabilities each country should contribute.

While a Wall Street Journal report suggested troops could be repositioned within Europe based on political alignment, the White House official told Reuters that Trump’s discussions have focused on bringing troops back to the United States rather than relocating them elsewhere.

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