The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of withdrawing its forces from NATO countries that did not aid the United States and Israel during the war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 8.
The proposed plan would see US forces redeployed to countries that have been more supportive of the US military campaign.
As the newspaper notes, this is one of several options the White House is discussing to punish European NATO countries for refusing to help in the war with Iran. But this proposal is a far cry from Trump’s threat to completely withdraw the United States from NATO.
The newspaper added that the plan received the support of senior officials in the administration, but it is still in the early stages of development.
In addition to redeploying troops, the plan could also include closing a U.S. base in at least one European country, possibly Spain or Germany, two administration officials said.
The White House declined to comment on this information.
It is not known from which European countries US forces may be redeployed. The Wall Street Journal listed Spain, Germany, Italy and France among the countries that criticized the war with Iran or prevented the US military from using their airspace or military bases during the campaign.
Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Greece could benefit from the redeployment of US forces, the publication’s sources said. The newspaper pointed out that the American plan may lead to the stationing of more American forces near Russia’s western borders, which would likely anger Moscow.
According to the Wall Street Journal, there are about 84,000 American soldiers across Europe.