US President Donald Trump has said he is "still considering" relocating troops from American military bases in Italy, telling Italian media that "Italy was not there when we needed it." The remarks, made during a phone interview reported by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, mark a fresh escalation in Washington's pressure on European allies over defence burden-sharing.

What Trump Said

During the phone interview, Trump declined to comment on Iran's expected response to a US peace proposal, which had been anticipated on Friday, 9 May. He did not elaborate on a specific timeline for any troop relocation from Italy, but his remarks were unambiguous in tone. He also criticised congressional scrutiny of military actions, arguing it weakens Washington's negotiating position. "It's hurting our negotiating ability, which is infinite right now," he said.

Italy's Response

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he "cannot understand" the reasoning behind Trump's remarks. Crosetto noted that Italy is actively working with coalition partners to prepare a mission in the Strait of Hormuz, focused on mine clearance and the protection of maritime navigation — an effort aligned with broader Western security interests.

Scale of US Military Presence in Italy

Data from the US Department of Defence shows that as of the end of 2025, approximately 12,700 active-duty US troops are permanently stationed in Italy. That makes Italy the second-largest US military presence in Europe, behind only Germany. Any significant drawdown would represent a major strategic shift in NATO's southern flank.

Wider Pattern of European Troop Cuts

This is not an isolated remark. As early as 1 May, Trump had indicated he may reduce US military presence in both Spain and Italy, criticising European allies for not contributing to the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Earlier in May, he also confirmed that the United States would cut its troop presence in Germany beyond earlier expectations. "We're gonna cut way down and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," he said, referring to the Germany drawdown. The pattern points to a deliberate strategy of using troop deployments as leverage in alliance negotiations — a significant departure from post-World War II US foreign policy norms.

The Iran Dimension

The remarks came on the same day that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was visiting Rome, said Iran was expected to respond to Washington's proposal on resolving their ongoing conflict. The convergence of the Iran diplomacy track and Trump's pressure on Italy underscores how the administration is simultaneously managing multiple geopolitical fronts, with Europe increasingly caught in the crossfire. As of the time of reporting, Iran's formal response had not been publicly confirmed.