The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering a plan to “punish“ certain NATO members that the White House believes were not helpful enough during the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
The plan would see US troops pulled out of alliance member states that provided insufficient support for the operation. The troops would be deployed to countries that Washington believes were more helpful. In addition to the troop reallocation, the plan also includes the closure of a US military base in at least one European country. It could be Spain or Germany, two Trump administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
According to the newspaper, the idea has been discussed in recent weeks. The plan is in the early stages of development but has received support among senior members of the Trump administration. The newspaper noted that approximately 84,000 American troops are stationed in Europe, and the bases in the region serve as a key hub for US military operations. It also noted that the bases in Eastern Europe "serve as a deterrent" to Russia.
The White House declined to comment on the plan. The newspaper noted that Trump administration officials are unhappy with Germany after its criticism of the war with Iran. In addition, Italy has refused to provide an air base in Sicily for US bombers. France, meanwhile, has agreed to use the bases only on the condition that aircraft not involved in strikes against Iran land there.
If the plan is implemented, sources told the publication that countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Greece, which the United States considers more supportive of the United States, could benefit. The newspaper noted that these countries have some of the highest defense spending in NATO. In addition, they were among the first to express their readiness to support the international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz.
The article noted that the US plan could lead to the deployment of more American troops closer to the border with Russia, which would “likely irritate“ Moscow.
The newspaper also noted that during his first term, Trump ordered the withdrawal of approximately 12,000 American troops from Germany. However, President Joe Biden later reversed this decision.