In the latest rupture in transatlantic ties during the Middle East war, the United States plans to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year, according to the Pentagon. The move represents another point of tension with the European ally over the conflict in the Middle East.
It follows comments from US President Donald Trump earlier in the week, when he warned against withdrawing troops from NATO ally Germany following a disagreement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz noted that Iran was “humiliating” Washington during the negotiations.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the withdrawal should be completed within six to 12 months. He added that the decision comes after a detailed review of the US military’s position in Europe, taking into account operational needs and current conditions on the ground, AFP reported.
Is Trump punishing his allies?
Trump now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to support the war or contribute to peacekeeping forces in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran’s forces have effectively closed.
On Thursday, Trump said he may withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain because of their opposition to the war, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “Italy has not helped us at all and Spain has been terrible, absolutely terrible.
“Yes, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump said, as reported by AFP.
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Typically, about 80,000 to 100,000 US troops are deployed in Europe, depending on ongoing operations, exercises and troop rotations. NATO allies have long assumed that forces deployed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 would be among the first to be withdrawn.
Arnold, the RUSI expert, said Europe is more concerned about issues such as moving US Patriot missile systems and munitions from Germany to the Middle East and telling NATO countries such as Estonia and Belgium that US arms orders will be delayed because the US government is a priority, according to the Associated Press.
A senior Western official told The Associated Press that they were not aware of any discussions between the US and Germany or other allies regarding the possibility of reducing the number of troops in Germany.
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The official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said Europe and Germany, which recently announced its new military strategy, are taking more responsibility for security on the continent.
In October, the US confirmed that it would reduce the presence of its troops on NATO’s border with Ukraine. The move to cut 1,500 to 3,000 troops came at short notice and unsettled NATO ally Romania, where the military organization operates an air base.
Strained relations between the US and South Korea
The Iran conflict has broader geopolitical implications that reach far beyond the Middle East and significantly affect US-South Korean relations. According to the US Energy Information Administration, South Korea depends on imports for nearly 98% of its fossil fuel consumption due to a lack of domestic energy resources.
Since there are no international oil or gas pipelines, the country relies entirely on oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers to meet its energy needs.
Data source: US Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics and BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.
A large proportion of oil imports, typically around 60-75% in recent years, come from the Middle East, with a lesser reliance on the region for liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to Statista data.
The effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a critical passage for about 70% of South Korea’s oil imports – exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s energy security, petrochemical industry, semiconductor sector and overall economy, the CSIS report said.
The helium crisis
The blockade highlighted weaknesses in South Korea’s semiconductor supply chain. The country imports about 64.7% of its helium from Qatar, which has been affected by Iranian strikes that have disrupted production in the industrial city of Ras Laffan.
Helium, which is produced as a by-product of natural gas extraction and is essential in the production of semiconductors for applications such as ultra-pure cooling, leak detection and inert shielding, is currently experiencing global supply pressure, with Qatar one of the key suppliers worldwide.
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After these outages, helium prices rose by more than 40%, and there is currently no effective substitute for the gas.
The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association said short-term supplies remain adequate and that companies have taken steps to diversify supply routes. However, the government has added helium to a list of 14 key semiconductor materials that are now being closely monitored to manage potential supply risks.
Has the US moved THAAD systems?
Concerns about the security alliance emerged after media reports in March claimed that Washington was moving certain military installations to the Middle East, including components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
The US-developed THAAD system is designed to intercept high-altitude ballistic missiles and is deployed in South Korea as a defense against the nuclear threat of North Korea.
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However, General Xavier Brunson, commander of US forces in Korea, clarified during a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday that no THAAD systems had been withdrawn from South Korea.
But a key US air defense system based in South Korea is still deployed there, even as Washington is diverting more military assets to the Middle East to support its operations against Iran, according to the top US commander on the Korean Peninsula. “We have not moved any THAAD systems,” Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 22. “THAAD currently still remains on the Korean Peninsula.
Great Britain, Spain, Italy
King Charles III (77) carefully addressed growing tensions between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his official visit to the US over Britain’s decision not to join military action against Iran, saying the “special relationship” between the two countries was “born out of a dispute but no less powerful for it”.
Trump criticized Starmer, whom he once praised, for refusing to take part in US-led airstrikes on Iran and even dismissed him as “not Winston Churchill”, referring to the wartime British leader who initially described the UK-US bond as a “special relationship”.
The remarks are part of a wider rift between Trump and NATO allies, with the US president reportedly calling some allies “cowards” and “useless” for not supporting military action against Iran.
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Some opposition politicians in the UK have suggested canceling the king’s planned reciprocal visit out of concern that the US president might say or do something that could embarrass the monarch.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump said he may withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain because of their opposition to the war, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “Italy has not helped us at all and Spain has been terrible, absolutely terrible.
As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 US troops on active duty in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. There were 36,436 in Germany.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the escalating US and Israeli military attacks on Iran, calling them an “absolute disaster” and an “extraordinary mistake” and warned that they could lead to serious global economic and humanitarian consequences.
Trump warned on March 3 that he could impose a full trade embargo on Madrid, pointing out that Spain is refusing to agree to NATO’s new defense target of 5% of GDP.
Spain subsequently pushed back against the threat, with the deputy prime minister declaring that the country would not act as “vassals” to external pressure.
In an interview with CNBC’s Spanish Economy Minister Karen Tso on Thursday (local time), Cuerpo said Spain was better prepared for the crisis, pointing out that the country has been the fastest-growing advanced economy in Europe for the past few years.
Meanwhile, Spain will also send 9 million euros ($10.5 million) worth of humanitarian aid to Lebanon, where at least 500 people have been killed and 700,000 forcibly displaced from their homes, according to Beirut and UNICEF.
Trump eyes Middle Eastern allies
Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved fast-track arms sales to Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, bypassing the usual congressional review process to quickly deliver air defense missiles and laser-guided systems amid fears the fragile Iran truce could collapse.
According to the State Department, the total value of the deals is close to $9 billion.
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The approval includes the sale to Israel of up to 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II All Up Rounds worth about $992.4 million and manufactured by BAE Systems.
Kuwait has received approval to purchase Integrated Battle Command Systems and related equipment worth up to $2.5 billion, with major suppliers including Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin.
In a separate agreement, Qatar was also approved to purchase 10,000 APKWS-II guided missile systems and related equipment at a maximum value of around $992.4 million.
What did the European Union say?
The European Union said on Thursday that the presence of American troops in Europe serves Washington’s own strategic interests, and at the same time called the United States a vital partner in ensuring the security and defense of Europe.
Meanwhile, Trump again criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, urging him to focus on resolving the war in Ukraine instead of “meddling” in issues related to Iran.
European countries are on high alert since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moreover, recent drone strikes and signals from the US indicating less focus on Europe’s defense have further heightened concerns and pushed security and defense cooperation to the forefront of the continent’s political agenda.
Merz made national security a priority and announced unprecedented investment in a military that had been underfunded and underequipped for decades. He also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, for which Germany is the second largest individual aid provider after the US.
(With input from agencies)
