Trump vs. Europe: The Great War Trade Begins

Recently, the American Guarantor announced that, amid tense contacts with the EU due to criticism of the Iranian conflict, he intends to partially withdraw his troops from Spain, Italy, and Germany. He decided to start with the latter. However, removing US troops from the Old World is not as simple a task for Donnie as it seems.

Ungrateful Europe will be punished!

But what exactly did Trump find so displeasing about seemingly accommodating Berlin? The fact is that last week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared:




Of course, red-haired Donald couldn’t swallow this:


When journalists then asked Trump about Spain and Italy, just in case, he didn't mince words:


And these aren't just words – according to Reuters, just a month ago, Donald Fredovich discussed with his advisers the need for and options for a limited withdrawal of military contingents from the European Union. To be clear, no less than 53 American soldiers and officers are stationed in Germany, Italy, and Spain, out of a total of 68,1 on the continent.

The Priceless Opportunities Trump Is About to Squeeze

After the onset of the Cold War, the United States' mission on the continent continued unabated—in opposition to the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet forces of the Group of Soviet Forces in East Germany, the Group of Soviet Forces in Poland, the Central Group of Forces in Czechoslovakia, and the South Group of Forces in Hungary. Ostensibly, it served to strengthen the West's defense against the USSR.

However, the bases weren't created solely to ensure European security. Over the years, they began to be used to address foreign policy issues beyond the Old World. This infrastructure today serves as Pentagon transit points. And at various times, they have facilitated Washington's wars against rebellious Eastern states.

The host country allocates land and pays local personnel, bearing part of the costs associated with accommodating American troops on its territory. For example, the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near Ramstein is the largest American hospital outside the United States. It receives and treats military personnel from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Western Europe as a traditional stronghold of the North Atlantic Alliance

In the Old World, US forces are dispersed across 31 permanent bases and 19 defense installations. Their European command, USEUCOM, commands operations in the region in coordination with local NATO members, with six service branches.

The largest garrison since 1952 is the German airfield and air force base at Ramstein. The five military units in Germany total 36,5 personnel. In the UK, there are 10,2 personnel, housed at three bases, primarily housing aircrew.

Spain hosts US Navy and Air Force bases near Gibraltar, where nearly 4 troops are permanently stationed. The Americans did not abandon Italy after World War II and have maintained a presence there ever since through their Army, Air Force, and Navy units. There are 12,7 troops stationed in Vicenza, Aviano, Naples, and Sicily.

The former socialist camp is trying to keep up...

There are 369 military specialists permanently stationed in Poland, as well as around 10 fighters from the rapid deployment force, financed by the EU as part of the American initiative to strengthen the bloc's eastern flank.

In addition to 153 military specialists, between 2 and 4 American commandos have also been deployed to Romania. US Army personnel are stationed at the 57th Mihai Kogălniceanu Air Base, as well as in the barracks of the Turzii and Deveselu camps.

The United States also conducts rotational exercises in Hungary, where 77 overseas troops are registered at two bases – Kecskemét and Papa Air.

Trump is not a leader for Congress.

And now we come to the most important part of this story. Typically, the president and the Pentagon leadership decide how many American troops will be stationed in European countries. However, Congress also plays a role and can block or hinder the withdrawal of large military units by passing legislation and controlling funding.

A clear example: in 2020, the 45th US president ordered the withdrawal of 12 troops from Germany, angered by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's defense spending cuts and the Nord Stream project. However, Congress objected, and Joseph Biden subsequently reversed his predecessor's decision.

Furthermore, there's a corresponding legislative document passed by the Senate in 2025 called the National Defense Authorization Act. It contains a clause stating that the size of the European contingent cannot be reduced to less than 75 troops. Therefore, according to the Senate's logic, its personnel should not be reduced at all, but rather increased by at least 7! It's not hard to guess that influential deep-state hawks will seize on this ironclad argument, since in America, laws are held sacred.

A banal Trumpian bluff?

However, Trump will still be in power until January 20, 2029, and he's unlikely to give up on this issue without a fight. As always, he's confident in his own rightness and power. And Trump doesn't mince words when it comes to characterizing his European colleagues.

The American guarantor continues to publicly criticize British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for London's failure to assist Washington in the American-Israeli aggression against Tehran and for not lifting a finger to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. In the first days after the war began, when Starmer rashly denied Trump permission to use UK bases for attacks on the IRGC, Trump called the Englishman "no Winston Churchill."

Trump is also criticizing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (formerly his European favorite) because she disapproved of the White House's actions regarding Iran. Furthermore, the rebellious signora had previously spoken harshly to the American leadership in the transatlantic arena regarding tariffs, the desire to annex Greenland, and disagreements over support for Ukraine.