Trump May Expand Troop Withdrawals to Italy as NATO Tensions Rise

President Donald Trump may expand his plan to reduce the US military footprint in Europe beyond the 5,000 troops already slated to leave Germany. Sources within NATO suggest that Italy could be the next country to face a withdrawal of American forces. Additionally, Trump is considering canceling a planned deployment of long-range missiles to Germany. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US Military personnel take away Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), removed from a US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford in south-west England on March 15, 2026. Fairford is one of two bases, along with the Diego Garcia facility in the Indian Ocean, that the UK has given the US permission to use for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source, the British defence minister said in a statement. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google US President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the US military presence in Europe may extend beyond Germany , with Italy identified as a potential next target for troop withdrawals. According to Bloomberg , the White House is reassessing its commitments across the continent. In addition to potential cuts in Italy, the administration may scrap plans to station long-range missiles in Germany – a key component of NATO’s regional deterrence strategy. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The shift in military posture is reportedly driven by the President’s frustration with certain European allies regarding their level of assistance in the US-led operations against Iran . Sources suggest these measures serve as a direct signal of displeasure with nations that have not fully aligned with Washington’s Middle East objectives. Troops may be moved from nations the President is dissatisfied with to more “friendly” allies. The US may cease participation in specific joint military exercises. Poland has already expressed a strong readiness to host additional US forces to bolster NATO’s eastern flank , with Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz calling the alliance the “cornerstone” of Polish security. These developments follow the Pentagon’s confirmation that approximately 5,000 service members from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker Brigade) will leave Vilseck, Bavaria, over the next year. Other Topics of Interest Hungary PM Péter Magyar Vows to Restore Democracy and Unlock EU Funds In his first speech as Prime Minister, Péter Magyar outlined a transformative agenda for Hungary, focused on restoring democratic checks and balances and judicial independence. He pledged to unlock approximately €34 billion in frozen EU cohesion funds and defense loans by addressing the rule-of-law concerns that plagued the previous administration. President Trump has publicly suggested that the final reduction in Germany could be “much larger” than the initial 5,000. While the White House describes these changes as a strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific and domestic zones, the potential for wider withdrawals has raised concerns among Congressional leaders and NATO officials about the future of collective European security . Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.