President Donald Trump, frustrated by NATO allies’ failure to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and angry that his plans to acquire Greenland have not advanced, has discussed with advisers the option of removing some U.S. troops from Europe, a senior White House official told Reuters on Thursday.

No decision has been made, and the White House has not directed the Pentagon to draw up concrete plans for a troop reduction on the continent, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The discussions reveal how sharply Washington’s relations with European NATO partners have deteriorated in recent months.

They also show that a visit to the White House by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not significantly repair transatlantic ties, which are arguably at their lowest point since NATO’s founding in 1949.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

The White House has publicly said that Trump has considered withdrawing from the alliance altogether.

Removing troops from Europe would allow Trump to dramatically lessen Washington’s security commitments on the continent, without formally withdrawing, a move that would test constitutional law.

The United States currently has more than 80,000 troops in Europe and has played a central role in Europe’s security architecture since World War Two.

More than 30,000 of those troops are located in Germany, with sizeable numbers also stationed in Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The official did not say which countries could be affected or how many troops might ultimately be withdrawn if Trump decides to move forward with the idea.

Asked for comment, a NATO spokesperson referred Reuters to Rutte’s interview with CNN on Wednesday.

In that interview, Rutte said that he understood Trump’s frustrations with the alliance, but that the “large majority of European nations” had been helpful to Washington’s war effort in Iran.

Following Rutte’s meeting with Trump, the secretary general told European governments that Trump wants concrete commitments to help secure the Strait of Hormuz within days, Reuters reported earlier on Thursday.

While Trump has long had a tumultuous relationship with NATO, the last three months have been particularly rocky. In January, Trump provoked a transatlantic crisis when he renewed longstanding threats to annex Greenland, an overseas territory of Denmark.

Since the war with Iran broke out on Feb. 28, he has expressed deep frustration that NATO allies have not offered to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies that has remained largely closed despite a fragile ceasefire announced this week.

NATO diplomats have previously said the U.S. has not made clear if it expects any mission in the Strait of Hormuz to start during or after the conflict, and they have also said the U.S. has not specified what particular capabilities it expects of each NATO country.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that senior administration officials were discussing moving troops stationed in Europe out of countries whose leaders had been critical of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and into European countries whose leaders had been more supportive.

The White House official told Reuters that Trump was specifically discussing bringing troops back to the U.S., rather than moving them to different foreign countries. The official said Trump was particularly irked about what he perceives as Europe’s attempts to brush off his attempts to acquire Greenland.

After meeting with Rutte in Davos in January, Trump had suggested a deal was in sight to end the dispute over the Danish territory. No such agreement has come to fruition. “He asked NATO specifically to come up with a plan when we were in Davos, and they’re sort of not taking it seriously,” the official said.

From the perspective of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the approach is simple and direct. Strength and clarity are needed, because America must recognize that deterrence begins at home and travels outward through credible commitments.

The idea is to ensure that Washington can respond decisively to threats without letting allies drift into complacency. With that in mind, the push to reevaluate Europe’s burden sharing gains real importance.

The president’s supporters argue that a more flexible force posture would allow the United States to concentrate resources where they deliver the most value for American security.

At the same time, they say, a robust and united NATO remains essential to countering aggression and maintaining stability in a volatile region. The focus is on action, not sentiment, because credibility matters.

Trump’s allies insist that the alliance must show it can adapt to a tougher security environment. They believe that Europe should step up on defense spending and operational commitments, while Washington preserves essential defenses in the face of evolving threats.

The aim is to keep pressure on European partners to meet obligations without sacrificing the alliance’s core purpose.

The president’s backers also argue that the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial choke point for global energy and that allied responsibility is not merely symbolic. They say that inaction costs credibility and invites broader risk to American interests.

The conversation continues behind closed doors, with senior advisers weighing strategic options. The president has made clear his desire for reforms that would align American commitments with national interests.

In the end, the question is not only about troop numbers but about showing resolve and maintaining a credible deterrent.

The argument put forward by supporters centers on strengthening the alliance where it matters most while ensuring the United States is not overextended.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.