Reuters: Trump is considering withdrawing some American troops from Europe amid tensions with NATO

United States President Donald Trump has discussed with his advisers the possibility of attracting part of American troops from Europe, amid dissatisfaction with the lack of support from NATO allies and blocking his plans for Greenland, Reuters reports

According to a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity, no decision has been taken, and the Pentagon has not been ordered to draft concrete plans to reduce troops on the continent.

However, the discussions themselves point to the significant deterioration of relations between Washington and NATO's European allies in recent months. They also suggest that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to the White House has failed to significantly improve transatlantic reports, which are considered among the most tense since the establishment. NATO in 1949.

Currently, the US has over 800,000 troops in Europe and has played a key role in European security architecture since World War II. More than 30,000 of them are located in Germany, while considerable numbers are also found in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

The official did not specify which countries might be affected or how many troops could be withdrawn if Trump decided to move forward with this idea.

Alliance in Crisis

Although Trump's relationship with NATO has long been tense, he has often accused European countries of insufficient defence spending over the past three months have been particularly difficult.

In January, Trump caused a transatlantic crisis by restoring threats to the annexation of Greenland, Denmark's autonomous territory. Meanwhile, following Iran's outbreak of war on 28 February, he has voiced disappointment that NATO allies have not offered assistance in reopening the Hormuz Strait, a vital route for global power supply, which has remained largely closed despite a fragile ceasefire declared this week.

NATO diplomats have declared that the US has not clarified whether it expects a mission to begin during or after the conflict, as well as has not specified the capacities it requires of each member state.

According to reports, senior administration officials have also discussed the possibility of displaceing troops from European countries whose leaders have criticised the US-Israel War against Iran, towards countries that have supported the most.

However, according to White House official Trump is primarily considering the return of troops to the US, rather than moving them to other foreign countries.