US President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing some American troops from Europe, amid growing frustration with NATO allies over their response to the Iran conflict and stalled ambitions regarding Greenland, according to a senior White House official.
The official said Trump has discussed the option with advisers, citing disappointment over Europe’s failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and irritation that efforts to assert control over Greenland have made little progress.
No final decision has been taken, and the White House has not directed the Pentagon to prepare concrete withdrawal plans. However, the internal deliberations point to a sharp strain in transatlantic ties.
The issue surfaced even as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited the White House this week, with little sign of easing tensions described by officials as among the worst in decades.
The United States currently has over 80,000 troops stationed across Europe, with major deployments in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain — forming a key pillar of Europe’s post-World War II security framework.
Trump has long criticised European allies for underinvesting in defence, but tensions have intensified amid the Iran war, particularly over the lack of coordinated action to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
His renewed push on Greenland, a Danish territory, has further unsettled European capitals, adding another layer of friction to already strained relations.
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