Trump puts pressure on Europe and increases US tension with historic allies

The United States once again threatened to reduce its military presence in Europe amid disagreements over the war against Iran.

The withdrawal of troops from Germany, the cancellation of the shipment of weapons systems and the uncertainty about the maintenance of strategic capabilities, such as air defense and intelligence, make up the set of measures adopted by Washington to punish its European partners.

The movement deepens tensions within NATO and highlights the old continent’s structural dependence on North American equipment and defense systems.

While Spain has rejected the use of its bases for military operations, other European countries maintain logistical support for Washington, while also seeking to avoid a direct confrontation with Donald Trump’s government.

The measures were adopted without prior consultation with European allies and, according to officials interviewed by Reuters, are directly linked to Washington’s dissatisfaction with the level of European support for the war against Iran.

At the same time, the Pentagon has avoided presenting a clear timeline for the withdrawal of other strategic systems, such as air defense platforms and intelligence capabilities, increasing uncertainty in European capitals.

For international analyst Ana Prestes, the episode should not be interpreted as an isolated gesture, but as part of a deeper inflection in the relationship between the United States and Europe.

“It is through the Trump administration that we have seen more clearly something that we have called a fissure in the Atlantic Alliance”, he states.

Europe reacts unevenly and avoids direct confrontation

Reactions within the European bloc have been marked by division and caution. Spain was the most explicit case of resistance, stating that it will not allow the use of bases on its territory for operations related to the war against Iran.

Other countries, such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom, continue to comply with logistical agreements with the United States, including the use of military bases, airspace and the positioning of equipment close to the Gulf.

This behavior indicates that some European governments are trying to balance between avoiding direct involvement in the conflict and maintaining military cooperation with Washington.

At the same time, leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to defend the permanence of North American troops on the continent.

According to Ana Prestes, the stance adopted by Washington has direct effects on European decisions.

“Trump made European governments increase their military investment, their military budget, and invest more in NATO,” he says.

The analyst also highlights the political intensification caused by the confrontational stance adopted by Washington. “Trump is on a collision course with Pedro Sánchez (Spain), he is on a collision course with Merz”, in reference to tensions with European heads of government.

Military dependence limits European autonomy

The difficulty of a firmer reaction from Europe is directly linked to the continent’s structural dependence on the North American military apparatus.

Over the decades, European countries have come to depend on the United States not only for the presence of troops, but for strategic capabilities considered critical to defense.

These dependencies include missile defense systems, strategic military transportation, and satellite-based intelligence networks—areas in which the U.S. focuses technologies and infrastructure that do not have fully operational equivalents in Europe.

The eventual withdrawal or reduction of these resources creates, according to experts, an immediate gap in the continent’s deterrence capacity.

Furthermore, there is a technological dependence that limits the operational autonomy of several European countries. Equipment such as the F-35 Lightning II fighter, acquired by NATO allies, depends on support, maintenance and integration systems controlled by the United States, which restricts the independent use of these platforms in conflict scenarios.