US to ‘reexamine’ NATO membership, mulls pulling out troops over Iran war opposition

Trump administration reportedly considering moving troops from NATO member states that did not back Iran war, including Germany, Italy, and Spain.

By World Israel News Staff

The White House is mulling major changes to its relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after a number of member states distanced themselves from the air campaign against Iran and, in some cases, barred the US from transferring aircraft through their airspace.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte amid a deepening trans-Atlantic rift over the Iran war, with the administration openly questioning the alliance’s value after several European members blocked the US from using their air bases or airspace.

Rubio said that the United States would have to “reexamine” the relationship with NATO once the Iran conflict ends, while Trump recently warned NATO in a social media post that America might not “be there to help” allies in the future.

The reordering could include the redeployment of American forces, with troops and equipment currently stationed in countries deemed to be unhelpful transferred to other NATO member states.

During the 39-day air campaign against the Iranian regime, Trump repeatedly slammed NATO member states for refusing to join US-led naval efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“It’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the last six weeks when it’s the American people who have been funding their defense,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.

In addition, several key NATO powers, including Austria, Spain, and Italy, announced that they would not allow American military aircraft involved in the war in Iran to transit through their territory.

US aircraft were barred from using several American bases located in Italy, while Spain and Austria both prohibited American aircraft en route to Iran from flying through their airspace.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is considering removing its troops and even closing military bases in a number of countries, including Germany and Spain, and relocating its forces to Poland, Romania, Lithuania, and Greece – all of which are perceived as having been more supportive of the war.