The Trump administration is considering a plan to sanction some NATO countries that the American president believes did not sufficiently support the United States and Israel during the war with Iran.
The strategy involves relocating American troops from NATO countries deemed uncooperative in the war effort against Iran and stationing them in states that have supported the US military campaign more, including in Romania, as reported by Wall Street Journal.
However, the plan is much more limited than President Trump’s recent threats to completely withdraw the US from the alliance, something he cannot do by law without Congressional approval.
The plan, which has circulated and gained support among high-ranking officials in the administration in recent weeks, is still in an early stage and is one of several options discussed at the White House to sanction NATO, according to WSJ.
It highlights the growing rift between the Trump administration and European allies following the president's decision to initiate the war with Iran.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte traveled to Washington on Wednesday to meet with Trump. Rutte tried to strengthen relations with him despite tensions in the transatlantic alliance and was among those who convinced him to abandon the idea of acquiring Greenland.
Amid Washington's criticisms that European allies did not engage, the NATO chief stated that in his view, in the Iran war, some NATO member countries were tested and failed.
The United States has approximately 84,000 troops stationed in Europe, although the exact number varies depending on military exercises and rotational deployments. A law passed by Congress in December prohibits significant withdrawals without consulting NATO and requires the Pentagon to maintain at least 76,000 troops in Europe. However, it does not specify where.
American bases in Europe are essential hubs for US global military operations and bring economic benefits to host countries through investments. Bases in Eastern Europe also serve to deter Russia.
Allies Who Could Lose Troops
It is not clear which countries could lose troops, but several alliance members have clashed with Trump since his return to power and have recently drawn his anger after challenging the war with Iran, as reported by WSJ.
Spain - the only NATO country that has not committed to allocating 5% of GDP for defense - blocked American aircraft involved in the operation in Iran from its airspace.
US officials are also displeased with Germany after senior leaders criticized the war initiated by Trump, although Germany is one of the most important centers for American military operations in the Middle East.
Italy temporarily blocked the use of an airbase in Sicily by American military aircraft, and France agreed to use a base in the southern part of the country only after the US guaranteed that only aircraft not involved in strikes on Iran would land there.
Aside from troop relocations, the plan could also involve closing an American base in at least one European country, possibly in Spain or Germany, according to Trump administration officials who spoke with WSJ.
Countries That Could Benefit
Countries that could benefit, being considered loyal allies, include Poland, Romania, Lithuania, and Greece, as officials have stated.
Eastern European states have some of the highest defense spending levels in the alliance and were among the first to announce support for an international coalition to monitor the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the outbreak of war, Romania swiftly approved US requests to allow the use of its bases by American Air Forces, as noted by WSJ.
The plan could lead to a greater number of American troops being stationed closer to the Russian border, a development that could provoke Moscow.
The war with Iran is the latest in a series of diplomatic crises faced by the alliance since Trump's return to power. He strained relations with allies by imposing high trade tariffs on Europe and engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to negotiate peace in Ukraine. Additionally, Trump sparked an unprecedented diplomatic crisis with Denmark, a NATO ally, by repeatedly attempting to annex Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory.
In his first term in 2020, Trump ordered the withdrawal of approximately 12,000 troops from Germany, but the decision was reversed by President Joe Biden after taking office in 2021.